Company Health Programme

Company Health Programmes
The Company is its people, they are your most important asset and our Company Health Programmes are about protecting those valuable assets.
Stress	With current news of huge compensatory pay awards to employees for stress, it makes sense to plan to help employees deal with the negative effects of stress and reduce the possibility of litigation. The recent discussion document produced by the Health and Safety Commission, points out that 'Although in itself stress is not an illness, there is evidence that stress can lead to mental health problems such as anxiety and depression, and physical problems such as heart disease.' (Independent Inquiry into Inequalities in Health. ISBN 0-11-322173-8, The Stationery Office, 1998.) Stress is here whether we like it or not. The Health and Safety Commission state that 'A survey of 114 subscribers to IRS' Employment Review and Occupational Health Review showed that 58% of respondents regarded stress as one of their firm's top 3 health at work priorities; a quarter felt that it was the most important health issue. Managing stress was predicted to be the fastest growing area of work for health at work teams over the next two years.' Not all stress is caused by work of course. Pressure can be around from many different sources: home (eg family illness), relationships and from within the self. Every individual will react to stress in their own way. It will manifest in diverse symptoms of mind and body.
Stress Management	Many conventional Stress Management Programmes fall at the first hurdle, by offering a very expensive 'quick-fix' approach in a one- or two-day course. The most these can do is raise awareness of stress.
Good stress	In short manageable bursts, stress is good for us. We can rise to the challenge of a new job or project. And we feel great satisfaction when that project is pushed to completion. We may have lost some sleep over it, but we see light at the end of the tunnel. Dr Hans Selye's 1960's diagram, showing the human organism's adaptability to stress, has been developed further below.

	Healthy work pressure - you are responding to the challenge of work pressure with enthusiasm, high energy and enjoyment, while maintaining a good balance to your life outside work. Physical and mental health is good. Fatigue - this is literally a 'grey area', where the stress is increasing, fatigue is setting in and you are pushing yourself harder. You are neglecting home and leisure, perhaps drinking too much alcohol, suffering from headaches, insomnia, frequent colds, back pain, digestive problems. There is mental frustration that your level of performance is ever harder to achieve. Overload - unremitting and constant stress can lead to feeling overwhelmed, isolated, loss of self-esteem and confidence. Physical symptoms worsen and if left untreated these feelings can lead to emotional breakdown (eg suicide) or physical breakdown (eg heart attack). Without any stress or work pressure, there is no productivity. A continuum of unremitting and constant stress with no intervention leads to very serious problems. It makes sense to help those stuck in their 'grey area' with physical and emotional problems - this will contribute to greater well-being in the long term. The psychological consequences of overwhelming perceived demand take their toll on the body producing 'stress-related symptoms'.
Our Company Health Programme can help...
	Practitioners at The Wren Clinic recognise this manifestation of 'dis-stress' in the body and treat the whole person through the presenting symptom (holistic). Any treatment, be it chiropractic, herbal medicine or acupuncture, will have its effect on the psyche (mind), just as counselling, psychotherapy or self-help methods such as Autogenic Training or Alexander Technique can affect the body. Dealing with stress in the long-term means taking steps to understand ourselves, our symptoms and our circumstances. Then we can feel empowered to do something about it. The Wren Clinic offers a comprehensive scheme which is tailored for each company's needs, and within that, to the needs of each individual person. Our Programme is educative - helping people take responsibility and take care of themselves.
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