April is Stress Awareness Month, and the figures are impossible to ignore. Poor mental health is now costing UK employers a staggering £51 billion every year. Of that, £28 billion is due to stress-related absence and burnout. In the past year alone, more than 16 million working days were lost because of stress, depression or anxiety.
These numbers tell a powerful story. It’s one that’s playing out in businesses across the country. People are overwhelmed. Burnout is widespread. Stress is no longer a quiet issue hidden beneath the surface. It’s a serious and costly problem that needs to be addressed.
Behind the statistics are people
We talk a lot about productivity, profit, and performance, but at the heart of every business are people and when people are struggling with stress, everything else begins to unravel.
That’s why Stress Awareness Month is more than just a date on the calendar. It serves as a timely reminder that businesses have a responsibility. This responsibility is not only to acknowledge stress but to actively address it. You can learn more about the national campaign on the International Stress Management Association’s Stress Awareness Month 2025 website.
Stress isn’t always caused by what’s happening outside of work. In many cases, it comes from within the workplace itself. It might be unmanageable workloads, unrealistic expectations, poor leadership, a lack of support, job insecurity or a toxic team culture.
The longer these issues go unaddressed, the more damage they cause. This includes financial loss, lower morale, damage to reputation, and long-term instability.
It’s time to ask the tough questions
Marking Stress Awareness Month shouldn’t just involve sharing infographics or motivational quotes. It’s an opportunity to pause and reflect. Are we doing enough to support our people? Are we unintentionally contributing to their stress? What needs to change?
Effective well-being strategies are based on real understanding, not assumptions. They come from honest conversations, from listening to your team, and from looking at what’s really going on. For example, when was the last time your staff felt able to speak openly about their workload? Do your managers recognise the signs of burnout? Have you created an environment where honest feedback is welcomed?
These are the kinds of questions we regularly help businesses explore through our ad hoc HR support. When challenges are approached with focus and care, even small changes can lead to long-term improvements.
Quick fixes won’t cut it
Offering a mindfulness app or the occasional free lunch might seem helpful, but if the root causes of stress aren’t being tackled, those gestures won’t make a lasting difference.
Stress Awareness Month is a chance to take a closer look at your workplace. Are workloads fairly distributed? Are your managers equipped to lead well? Do your people feel safe and supported?
Supportive leadership doesn’t require perfection. It means being present, approachable and clear. Managers who regularly check in, clarify expectations and lead with empathy can make a huge difference to team wellbeing.
In many cases, this is where retained HR support becomes incredibly valuable. It provides consistent, strategic guidance to help shape a healthier workplace culture that lasts far beyond April.
Supporting your people helps everyone thrive
Creating a healthier, more productive workplace is not just good for employees- it benefits the entire business. Lower absence rates, better engagement, improved retention and stronger performance all grow from a culture where mental health is taken seriously.
Recognise the problem this Stress Awareness Month
This Stress Awareness Month, take meaningful action. Whether you start by training your managers, reviewing policies or opening up space for honest conversation, every step counts.
If your business is ready to take employee well-being seriously and you’re looking for clear, compassionate support, we’re here to help. We offer straightforward and effective HR advice for businesses that want to make a positive change.
If you’d like to talk about how we can help, contact us for HR support today.
