Skip to main content
Wolverhampton Information Network
Stress Less Logo

Stress Less

Feeling stressed?

If the answer is yes, you're not alone. Stress is the feeling of being under too much mental or emotional pressure, and pressure turns into stress when you feel unable to cope.

A bit of stress is normal and can help push you to do something new or difficult, but too much stress can take its toll.

Stress and you

Lots of things can cause stress, including work, relationships and money problems. Stress can affect how you feel, think, behave and how your body works – from how well you sleep to your immune system. In the short-term that's not really a bad thing, but long-term stress puts your health at risk.

Check your mood by taking the NHS self-assessment quiz.

Mental Wellbeing

Here you can find out more advice and information about Mental Wellbeing.

Every Mind Matters

Every Mind Matters

There are times when we feel stressed, low or anxious, or have trouble sleeping. But there are things we can do to look after our mental health and wellbeing. Get expert advice, practical tips and a personalised action plan with Every Mind Matters.

5 Ways to Wellbeing

Find information on 'Five Ways to Wellbeing' and who to ask for help if you or a friend or relative are struggling with stress.

Staying well mentally is just as important as keeping physically well. Our mental wellbeing is about how we feel in ourselves and affects how well we function in daily life, including our ability to cope with stress. It is about feeling good and functioning well, as individuals, as families and communities.

Five ways to wellbeing

As individuals we can do a great deal to protect and promote our own mental wellbeing. Taking care of our own mental health suggests that there are 5 things we should be doing:

  1. Connect - connect with the people around you; with family, friends, colleagues and neighbours; at home, work, school or in your local community. Think of these as the cornerstones of your life and invest time in developing them. Building these connections will enrich you every day.
  2. Be active - go for a walk or run; step outside; cycle; play a game; garden; dance. Exercising makes you feel good. Most importantly, discover a physical activity that you enjoy; one that suits your level of mobility and fitness.
  3. Take notice - be curious; catch sight of the beautiful; remark on the unusual; notice the changing seasons. Savour the moment, whether you are on a train, eating lunch or talking to friends. Be aware of the world around you and what you are feeling. Reflecting on your experiences will help you appreciate what matters to you.
  4. Keep learning - try something new; rediscover an old interest; sign up for that course; take on a different responsibility at work.; fix a bike; learn to play an instrument or how to cook your favourite food; set a challenge you will enjoy achieving. Learning new things will make you more confident, as well as being fun to do.
  5. Give - do something nice for a friend, or a stranger; thank someone; smile; volunteer your time; join a community group; look out, as well as in. Seeing yourself, and your happiness, linked to the wider community can be incredibly rewarding and will create connections with the people around you. 

This means that we should be trying to stay physically active, and that engaging in creative activities, meeting people, learning new skills, engaging in volunteering or work activities are beneficial to our mental health.

If things are not going well - Ask for help

If you're concerned about your state of mind and are feeling low or anxious, it's a good idea to start by talking about your feelings with friends and family.

If you prefer, you can visit your GP. Don't feel ashamed of how you're feeling. Worries about mental health are the second most common reason for visiting a doctor, so you're not alone. Mental health problems can affect people at any time of life and in different ways. In fact, a quarter of us will have problems with our mental wellbeing at some time in our lives.

Suicide Awareness, Support & Prevention

Here you will find out more information on suicide awareness, support and prevention.

The city of Wolverhampton takes suicide prevention very seriously.  In 2015, a multi-agency, city wide forum was established to galvanise efforts across various organisations and people. The Wolverhampton Suicide Prevention Stakeholder Forum aims to coordinate action to raise awareness of suicide through the suicide prevention strategy and action plan.

Here you will find out more about the Wolverhampton Suicide Prevention Stakeholder Forum and the suicide prevention strategy action plan.

Common Mental Health Problems

Stress

There's not always a quick-fix cure for stress, but there are things you can do to help you stress less. Learn how to stress less.

Sleep problems

If you’re having sleep problems, there are steps you can take to ease those restless wakeful nights. Create your personal action plan and get to sleep with ease. Read about sleeping better.

Low mood

We all feel low from time to time, but the good news is there are steps you can take to help lift your mood. Get tips on improving your mood.

Anxiety

We all have days where we feel anxious and uneasy, and worry about the future. It’s completely natural. But when our worries are out of proportion, it's time to take action on anxiety. How to manage anxiety.

Panic

We all experience feelings of mild panic from time to time. Some people experience panic attacks that can seriously affect their lives. Learn about the steps you can take to keep panic at bay, and when to seek help. Dealing with panic.

Trauma

Traumatic events can be difficult to come to terms with. Learn about the steps you can take to help manage your feelings and when to get help for post-traumatic stress. Dealing with trauma.

Obsessions and compulsions

Having intrusive thoughts or acting compulsively doesn't necessarily mean you have obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), but it can have a serious impact if you do. Find out more about OCD and when to seek help. Obsessions and compulsions.

Social anxiety

Social anxiety affects many of us from time to time, but for some people it becomes a real problem. Find out ways to take care of yourself, develop an action plan, and learn when you should seek help. Challenge social anxiety.

Back to top