Beating Stress will be a Winner

A new professional award scheme was launched last week to recognise the UK’s best organisations when it comes to beating stress in the workplace. The National Stress Management Awards, organised by ISMA (International Stress Management Association), were launched at this year’s Annual Stress Management Conference and will celebrate successful stress management policies and promote best practice in business.

With work related stress levels reaching new heights, and 17% of British workers last year reporting that their jobs were either very or extremely stressful, organisations must develop efficient methods for preventing stress. While some organisations do not have an effective policy, there are many organisations that manage stress in the workplace well, and it is this which will be recognised.

The purpose of the National Stress Management Awards is to recognise those organisations – public and private, commercial and not-for-profit, large and small – that make a positive contribution to protecting or improving the mental health of their workforce. The judging process will look for organisations that have implemented a successful stress management policy and judge the effectiveness and benefits of their action.

President of ISMA, Professor Carey Cooper launched The Awards which, in this inaugural year, will have one category: “The best stress management policy award”. There are three sub-categories to reflect the size of the organisation and a set of criteria to qualify for entry. The nine finalists will be invited to the 2011 Annual Conference where the winners will be announced.

ISMA is the leading UK professional body in stress management and exists to promote sound knowledge and best practice in the prevention and reduction of human stress and set professional standards for the benefit of organisations. Ann McCracken, Chair of ISMA, states: “We are currently developing the systems to regulate the training of stress managers and the launch of these national awards fits perfectly with this strategy. We are delighted to have Professor Cooper heading up the scheme and look forward to receiving entries which demonstrate best practice.”

The entry process will close towards mid November after which judging will take place. The winners will be announced at next years Annual Conference to be held in June 2011.

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Issued on behalf of ISMA by Kyrene Marketing Communications. For further information please call

Simon Lamb on 01376 513215 or email press@isma.org.uk