
April
Theme: Stress Awareness Month
April is Stress Awareness Month; its aim is to remind us of the importance of taking time to pause and understand what the purpose of stress is, our triggers, how it affects us physically and mentally, and the impact it has in our day-to-day lives.
It is designed to open up conversations about stress in our lives and remove some of the stigmas around talking about stress.
We all experience periods of pressure in our personal and working lives, and short periods of pressure are not necessarily of concern.
However, when demands and pressures (‘stresses and stressors’) become too great, they can induce, in anyone, the harmful or potentially harmful mental and physical feelings and reactions commonly known as “stress”.
Stress is not an illness, but exposure to excessive and prolonged stress can lead to mental and physical ill health.
Quick Links
The earlier a problem is tackled, the less impact it will have. If you think that you are having problems with stress at work or with your studies, we encourage you to talk to someone.
Whether you are a staff or student, we encourage you to explore the support systems available to you:

Staff
We encourage you to talk to your line manager, trade union representative, HR Partner or Employee Assistance Programme – MCL Medics
QMU Health and Safety (Internal SharePoint)
QMU Staff Stress Management (Internal SharePoint)
QMU Wellbeing Resources (Internal SharePoint)

Students
Student Services – Wellbeing Service
Student Services – Counselling Service
QMCares – Support for student carers, care experienced and estranged students
Louise Gill, Wellbeing Adviser - wellbeing@qmu.ac.uk
Dona Smith, Wellbeing Adviser for Paramedic Science Students - CWS@qmu.ac.uk
Key Dates
1st – 30th – Stress Awareness Month
2nd – World Autism Day
6th – International Asexuality Day
7th – World Health Day
8th – International Romani Day
22nd – Earth Day
26th – International Lesbian Visibility Day
28th – National British Sign Language (BSL) Day
Religious Dates
1st – 9th - Passover (Judaism)
2nd - Maundy Thursday (Christian)
3rd - Good Friday (Christian)
5th - Easter Sunday (Christian)
6th - Easter Monday (Christian)
12th - Pascha/Easter (Orthodox Christian)
13th – 15th - Songkran/Thai New Year (Buddhist)
14th - Vaisakhi (Sikh)
19th - Akshaya Tritiya (Jainism/Hindu)
20th – 21st - First Day of Ridván (Bahá’í)
28 - 29th - Ninth Day of Ridván (Bahá’í)
30th April – 1st May - Pesach Sheni/Second Passover (Judaism)