How do you relax when you’re stressed out? Do you go for a walk to clear your head? Do you watch some mindless television? Or are you, like thousands of other Irish people, physically incapable of switching off and de-stressing yourself?
Some new figures today have revealed that the number of people being admitted to hospitals as a result of stress is actually on the rise.
It is estimated that almost 90 per cent of Irish people suffer from some kind of stress on a daily basis and women are four times more likely than men to suffer from stress-related mental health disorders.
Stress and stress-related illnesses have become such a problem in Ireland over the past few years that dedicated Stress Clinics are starting to spring up all around the country. In fact, the main stress clinic for Dublin is located in St John of God’s Hospital.
According to some new data from the Health and Social Care Information Centre, admission rates among patients with stress were highest in the 18 to 60 age bracket. So basically, stress affects people who are working-aged.
Do you find it hard to calm down?
Commenting on these figures, the Mental Health Foundation said that the rising figures were “not surprising” given the fact that we’re currently still struggling through a recession and dealing with financial uncertainty.
“Concerns about money and debt place huge pressure on people’s mental well-being, so it is not surprising if stress and anxiety rise in times of economic crisis,” said Dr Andrew McCulloch, the chief executive of the Mental Health Foundation.
“We know that the outcomes of recessions – rising debt, unemployment and insecure housing – are associated with poorer mental health in individuals and poorer mental health is often linked to poorer physical health. Sustained periods of stress, anxiety and depression can lead to an increased risk of diabetes, stroke and cardiovascular disease,” he added.
Do you have any fool-proof methods for getting rid of or coping with stress? Let us know in the comments section.
