Our Theme for 2025

Our theme for 2025 is Optimising Employee Wellbeing through Strategic Stress Management. Strategic stress management is essential for enhancing employee wellbeing, and it must be grounded in ethical, values-based actions. Leaders play a key role in setting the tone, while managers are crucial in recognising and addressing workplace stress. Actions should align with established standards for managing stress effectively, supporting a broader industry goal: creating healthy, positive workplace cultures where employees thrive.

This theme will be reflected during International Stress Awareness Week 3rd – 7th November 2025.

End of Year Report

2024 marked ISMA^UK’s 50^th Anniversary and was another very productive year for us. Our End of Year Report 2024 covers ISMA^UK’s achievements and activities and you can read it here. There were successful events such as our well-attended Online Global Stress & Wellbeing Summit, held on Stress Awareness Day 6^th November, and several Online Webinars. We successfully launched the inaugural Stress Management Awards and will be running them again in 2025. There are updates from our international branches and ISMA Scotland. We were fortunate to have received sponsorship from PPWD, and we strengthened our connections with our official partners. We further increased our presence on social media.

We hope you find this report interesting. Please contact us if you would like to know more about any of the topics covered.

Our theme for 2025 will be Optimising Employee Wellbeing through Strategic Stress Management. If you would like to contribute in any way, we are always looking out for organisations and individuals who can work with us and help with this campaign.

Stress Management Awards

To commemorate our 50th anniversary in 2024, ISMA^UK launched the inaugural Stress Management Awards. These awards seek to recognise businesses, organisations and individuals that have made significant contributions to enhancing mental health and reducing stress. The 2024 winner and two runners-up were announced at the Global Online Stress & Wellbeing Summit on Wednesday 6^th November.

The Awards will be opening for submissions again in 2025, and information about the Awards and how to apply will appear here in the new year.

International Stress Awareness Week

International Stress Awareness Week is a major annual event focusing on stress management and campaigning against the stigma associated with stress and mental health issues. It attracts media attention worldwide.

International Stress Awareness Week in 2025 runs from 3^rd – 7^th November and the centrepiece will be Stress Awareness Day on Wednesday 5^th November.

Global Online Stress & Wellbeing Summit

The fifth Global Online Stress & Wellbeing Summit took centre stage on Stress Awareness Day, Wednesday 5^th November. The all-day programme featured renowned experts who led insightful discussions on topical subjects, from championing health, safety and wellbeing in organisations to minimising stress in a world increasingly dominated by technological advancements.

Ticket holders can continue to watch the Summit on catch-up until Tuesday 31^st December. You can find further information about this year’s Summit, including links to the speakers’ profiles and the full programme here.

The 2025 Summit will be held on Wednesday 5^th November.

Our Sponsors

Our sponsors not only share our core values, beliefs, and vision for reducing stress and enhancing health and wellbeing but also significantly strengthen our campaign through their support. We are deeply grateful for their commitment, which plays a crucial role in the success and impact of our efforts.

We are grateful for the support of PPWD as principal sponsor of ISMAUK’s 50th Anniversary Year, of the Online Global Stress Summit, and lead sponsor of the Stress Management Awards. PPWD specialise in the facilitation of programmes that bridge non-technical skills from trauma management to investigations, learning reviews, fair culture, wellbeing, and leadership.

Join ISMA now!

ISMA^UK is the premier organisation for stress management professionals and for anyone supporting our vision, our aims and the work we do, both in the UK and internationally. Amongst the many benefits of joining us, you will be able to interact with other leading practitioners and specialists in stress management, mental health and wellbeing. As an ISMA member, you will -

• Become part of our professional community
• Be able to attend regular events on stress management and wellbeing
• Receive updates on current topics and share best practice
• Gain recognised qualifications as an industry-recognised practitioner
• Add stature to your professional profile

For more information go here. We look forward to welcoming you as a member soon.

Our Partners

We are very grateful to have partners who share our vision of bringing about positive changes which help to reduce stress and mental health issues while enhancing wellbeing and performance. These partnerships demonstrate the importance of establishing progressive, interactive relationships which complement each partner’s values and objectives.

You can find more information about our partners here.

ISMA^UK Wellbeing & Resilience at Work Training Programme

The challenges presented by stress and mental health problems have never been more acute than in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. These challenges are of major concern for organisations and individuals, in the light of growing evidence of their effects during the pandemic.

ISMA^UK is focused on ensuring these issues continue to receive maximum attention, with the active promotion of wellbeing in the workplace. In support of these aims, we have produced a Wellbeing and Resilience at Work Training Programme, an off-the-shelf training resource with everything trainers and line managers need to help participants -

• Differentiate between stress and pressure and recognise the signs of stress
• Identify their personal levels of wellbeing and resilience
• Acquire tools and techniques to improve wellbeing and resilience
• Set goals for wellbeing improvement

Our ISMA^UK Recognised Course programme includes options for one-to-one or small group sessions and an interactive workshop. Find out more here and download our promotional flyer now.

“ISMA^UK’s training pack Wellbeing and Resilience at Work will help people enhance their mental wellbeing and manage workplace stress. It combines very accessible, useful information with interactive sessions to help them identify their own issues and how to deal with them. It is a supportive guide and toolkit for individuals, HR and occupational health professionals.”
Professor Sir Cary Cooper, University of Manchester, ISMA^UK Patron

ISMA^UK Hub

The Hub is an exciting forum for ISMA^UK members, professionals, businesses and anyone with an interest in ISMA. As a valuable library and resource for the whole ISMA community, it offers an opportunity to share information on subjects such as stress management, mental health, wellbeing and workplace performance.

Sharing resources

See what others have contributed and upload articles and other information for the benefit of other Hub visitors. It’s all about making connections, sharing thoughts and industry resources with others in the Hub community.

Events and networking

There will be announcements about forthcoming events. You can use the Hub as a networking tool, either during events, or through the Hub members’ directory.

How to register

Follow this link and join our community!