Be the change

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April is Stress Awareness Month. The annual campaign that has run since 1992 champions empowerment and highlights the message that stress is a natural and inevitable part of human existence, and it’s how we cope with it that determines how it affects us.

The Stress Management Society has long been a pillar for raising global awareness of stress, and Stress Awareness Month is one of its most high-profile campaigns.

Each year, the campaign offers a range of free resources on specially thought-about themes, and there are many ways that pharmacy teams can help to increase its public visibility.

Recent findings show that stress represents a real threat to physical and mental wellbeing in the UK. “91 per cent of people surveyed in The Burnout Report 2025 experienced high or extreme stress last year – an increase from 2024,” the Society says.

“Global research, including the 2025 AXA Mind Health Report, shows that adults aged 18-34 are disproportionately affected by stress, anxiety and depression, experiencing these at significantly higher rates than older age groups.”

In fact, research shows that 74 per cent of adults have felt so stressed at some point that they have struggled to cope, the Society adds.

These statistics show that while awareness of stress and mental wellbeing is growing, on the ground, people are still struggling to manage their stress levels.

The aims

“Our mission is to help individual organisations recognise and reduce stress, fostering happier and more resilient communities,” says the Stress Management Society. As such, Stress Awareness Month has four main aims:

• To increase people’s understanding of stress – what it is, where it comes from, and how it affects not just our minds and bodies but our day-to-day lives
• To empower people with practical tools – strategies to manage stress and support mental health and wellbeing
• To create open conversations that normalise stress and break down stigma around mental health
• To offer guidance and resources that support individuals and communities to respond to stress effectively.

What would Gandhi do?

The theme for Stress Awareness Month 2026 is #BeTheChange – inspired by the sentiment that small actions can have a big impact.

“We’re proud to introduce the theme #BeTheChange, a powerful call to personal agency, action and transformation rooted in the principles of self-efficacy, neuroplasticity and relational connection,” says the Stress Management Society.

“We live in a time where it’s easy to wait for someone else to step up, to fix things, to make the first move, to create change. We wait for systems to improve, for people to be kinder, for stress to simply disappear,” the Society adds.

“Too often, we give up before we begin, telling ourselves, ‘How could one person like me possibly make a difference?’”

The #BeTheChange movement wants people to embrace the power of action, shifting mindsets to believe they can manage their stress.

There are five key benefits awaiting those who take part in the #BeTheChange campaign:

1. Take personal control. “Move from feeling overwhelmed or powerless to actively shaping your wellbeing. Awareness is the first step, but action is what transforms stress into resilience.”

2. Inspire others. “Your choices, actions and stories can encourage friends, family and communities to step forward and create positive change too.”

3. Access practical tools. “Explore resources, challenges and guidance designed to help you cope with stress,
make mindful decisions and implement meaningful actions every day.”

4. Connect with a movement. “Join a network of individuals who, like you, are committed to turning awareness
into action, fostering connection, and building a more resilient society.”

5. See the ripple effect. “Small, consistent actions, speaking up, offering support and practising self-care can create meaningful, lasting change that extends far beyond your immediate circle.”