Managing work-related stress
Stress is a common occurrence in modern working life; in 2023/24, the Health and Safety Executive reported that 776,000 workers in Great Britain were experiencing work-related stress, depression or anxiety, which resulted in the loss of 16.4 million working days.1
Work-related stress is a potentially detrimental response often caused by high workload pressures and lack of managerial support.1 Of course, stress also affects us outside of the workplace – a Mental Health Foundation poll in 2018 found that 74% of the 4,619 UK adult respondents reported feeling overwhelmed or unable to cope in the past year.2
People in all types of occupations experience stress, but health professionals and those working in the public sector are particularly susceptible.1 As a medical communications agency, we often work closely with people in these sectors, and we ourselves can experience stressful situations as we strive to exceed client expectations and deliver quality work on time. At InterComm, we understand that excessive work-related stress is harmful and counterproductive. We pride ourselves on cultivating a kind and conscientious work environment that minimises stress and prioritises both our team and client’s wellbeing.
Managing stress is important for protecting both mental and physical wellbeing. As medical communications specialists, we are astutely aware of how chronic stress can compromise health and contribute to serious medical conditions.3 If left unchecked, stress can cause mental anguish, mood changes and further symptoms like headache, sleep problems and digestive issues, among others.4
Check out some of my top tips for managing stress at work below. If you are struggling to cope with stress in your life, consider seeking professional support, you can start by speaking with your GP or accessing support resources like those at www.mind.org.
We all deserve to live with less stress, so, take care, be kind and help each other.
Top tips for keeping your stress in-check:
1. Be open and ask for support
A problem shared is a problem halved. Your coworkers are there to support you just as you are there to support them. Asking for support can instantly alleviate some of the pressure you feel, and open communication can prevent stressful situations from occurring in the first place.
2. Take regular breaks
No matter how pressing a task feels, regular breaks will increase your productivity and the quality of your work while also reducing the toll that the stress may take on your wellbeing. So, step away, stretch out and relax your mind for a few minutes.
3. 
Practice mindfulness
Try to check in regularly with yourself and be aware of how you feel as you work. Try not to let stress build up. Do you feel tense? What circumstances are causing that tension? Can you take a break or ask for support?
References
- Health and Safety Executive. Work-related stress, depression or anxiety statistics in Great Britain, 2024. November 2014. Available at: https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/assets/docs/stress.pdf [Accessed: 9 October 2025]
- Mental Health Foundation. Stress: Are we coping? May 2018. Available at: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/publications/stress-are-we-coping [Accessed: 8 October 2025]
- British Heart Foundation. Takotsubo syndrome. July 2024. Available at: https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/conditions/takotsubo-cardiomyopathy [Accessed 09 October 2025]
- Signs and symptoms of stress. May 2025. https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/stress/signs-and-symptoms-of-stress/ [Accessed 09 October 2025]
