Students from the University of Greenwich will be encouraging the academic community to stop worrying and consider a range of activities to manage tension, as a way of marking National Stress Awareness Day (Wednesday, November 5).

As part of the International Stress Management Association UK’s (ISMA) awareness campaign called “Don’t Worry - Take Action”, students will be dishing out advice between 11am – 1pm at The Dome; the university’s brand new Avery Hill campus café, and gym, which is also open to the public.

Diners and gym users will be able to get information on combating worrying, which can lead to anxiety, tension and stress. There are many things people can do including writing lists, positive thinking, eating healthily, taking regular exercise and getting support.

The students taking part are from the BSc Complementary Therapies (Stress Management) degree and course co-ordinator and senior lecturer Josephine O’Gorman says the event is a great way to educate the public.

She says: “There is a real need to make people aware of the consequences of stress and worrying can be a major part of that. Worrying is extremely ineffective, drains your energy, saps your strength and makes you less able to cope with everyday pressure and, unless you take some action, it also changes nothing.

Ms O’Gorman added: “Everyone, can benefit from understanding their own level of stress and learning the variety of positive ways to manage it in their lives. We hope to be able to let people know they are not alone in worrying and the things they can do to feel better.”

For further information about stress management, visit www.isma.org.uk or www.hse.gov.uk.

To find out more about courses available at the University of Greenwich call 0800 005 006 or visit www.greenwich.ac.uk.