About ISMA^UK

The International Stress Management Association (ISMA^UK) is the UK’s leading professional body for personal and workplace stress management. We are a registered charity promoting good mental health, wellbeing and performance through education, training and professional standards.

In 2024, we celebrated 50 years of advancing best practice in stress and mental health, nationally and internationally.

ISMA^UK’s work focuses on three core areas:

Professional Body
We set standards in stress prevention and management, supporting a global network of practitioners and hosting the annual Online Global Stress and Wellbeing Summit featuring internationally recognised experts.

Membership Association
Our members deliver flexible training and coaching to individuals and organisations, helping around 40,000 people each year manage stress and improve wellbeing.

Charity
As a charity, we lead initiatives like International Stress Awareness Week to raise public understanding of stress and promote mental health education.

Through our practitioner register and events, ISMA^UK connects people and organisations with trusted, evidence-based support.

Click here to find out more.

A Proud Moment for ISMA^UK – Our Chair Awarded an MBE

We’re delighted to share that our Chair, Carole Spiers has been awarded an MBE for services to stress awareness and mental health.

This prestigious honour reflects Carole’s lifelong dedication to improving workplace wellbeing and reducing stigma around stress. Since joining ISMA^UK in 1988, she has been a passionate voice for positive change and continues to lead from the front.

Please join us in congratulating Carole on this well-deserved recognition.

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. 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 2025

Are you making a difference in this field?

Back for another year, the Stress Management Awards celebrate businesses, organisations, and individuals making outstanding contributions to mental health and stress reduction.

Submissions and nominations are now open across three award categories: Bronze, Silver, and Gold.

Apply now — or nominate someone whose work deserves to be recognised!

Winners will be announced following the Global Online Stress & Wellbeing Summit on Wednesday, 5 November 2025.

This year, the awards are expanding to include sole practitioners and SMEs, acknowledging their vital roles in promoting wellbeing and managing stress.

Whether you're already making an impact or know someone whose dedication should be celebrated — don’t miss the chance to get involved!

Winners Announced after the Global Online Stress & Wellbeing Summit on Wednesday 5 November

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.

The Global Online Stress & Wellbeing Summit 2025

This year's Summit will be held on Wednesday 5th November. Further information is available here.

The programme exemplifies our 2025 theme, Optimising Employee Wellbeing through Strategic Stress Management, and there are six sessions during the day. High-profile speakers include Professor Dame Carol Black, Chair of Think Ahead, the Government’s training programme for mental health social workers; Professor Sir Cary Cooper CBE, Patron of ISMA^UK and Professor of Organisational Psychology and Health, Manchester Business School; Paul Devoy, Chief Executive, Investors in People; and Sarah McIntosh, CEO, Mental Health First Aid.

This will be an exceptional Summit, so please book your place now!

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