Stress

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Stress

Gilmour Consulting has extensive experience helping individuals and organisations protect themselves against the negative impact of stress. When Ross first established his business he was referred and very successfully treated large numbers of people who were suffering stress and anxiety illnesses. Ross used this experience and that of his staff to develop Stress Management programmes that train people how to: recognise the signs and symptoms of stress, benefit from the positive effects of stress, avoid the negative impacts of stress and how to recover quickly if they were already having problems with stress and anxiety.

In May 2002 N.Z. amended its O.S.H. legislations so that it specifically included stress and fatigue as factors that have the potential to cause harm. Factors that cause stress and fatigue are now “hazards” and it is mandatory to manage them. However the Act is not prescriptive as to how this is to occur. In Australia all States/Territories legislated to recognise work-related disease in the 1980’s and stress is covered by the legislation and workers can claim compensation for it. At an IIR Conference in Sydney in May 2007 Dr Maureen Dollard indicated that at least AUD$200 million per annum is paid out for stress claims in Australia.


 

Management Responsibilities for Stress and Fatigue

We tailor the length and exact content of these workshops to meet the exact needs of our clients. However, they usually include strategies and skills that assist them to:

  • Understand the concept of stress and the inter action between environmental stressors and the manifestations of stress
  • Understand the ‘risks’ managers must manage in terms of the stress and fatigue related to the New Zealand or specific Australian State/Territory legislation
  • Understand the difference between managing a hazard versus managing the outcome of the hazard
  • Manage the impact of fatigue on staff
  • Recognise the signs and symptoms of stress in themselves and others
  • Understand why many staff may not recognise how stressed they really are
  • Know how to assist staff who have become stressed
  • Know why workaholics are now a threat to the business and how to change people’s workaholic behaviour patterns

 

 

Stress Proofing: Building Resilience to Pressure and Thriving on Stress

The content and length of these sessions is also tailored to meet our clients’ needs. However, it’s common for them to include strategies and skills that assist participants to:

  • Have an overview of what stress is and the different factors that cause stress
  • Acquire a series of brief practical tips for managing stress related to workloads
  • Know why people thrive under quite high levels of stress and why too little or too much stress causes people problems
  • Recognise the signs and symptoms of stress in themselves and others
  • Understand the reasons for and the types of physical changes that occur in the body when the stress response is turned on
  • Know how to avoid accidentally triggering a stress and anxiety loop and have some strategies for breaking them if you already experiences them
  • Develop a ‘cue controlled relaxation response’ which enables them to reach a point where, even in very stressful situations, they can say “relax” to themselves and feel relaxed. (Participants are provided with a CD so they can practice and develop this skill)
  • Acquire strategies which are very effective for improving self confidence and managing worry