'Stressed to kill' made very interesting reading.
But I am surprised at the constant use of the word 'stress' when what is actually meant is 'distress'.
We are all subjected to different stresses, whatever our occupation and at whatever level we operate, every day of our lives from birth to death.
It is the inability to cope with these stresses that has an adverse effect on particular individuals.
Thus they are not 'stressed' but 'distressed', and ways should be sought to reduce the level of distress so that daily stresses can be adequately coped with.
The major problem is individuals' and organisations' inability to take heed of the early warning signals - working longer hours, more things going wrong or not being done.
Instead, it is seen as a sign of weakness to admit the possibility that one is not coping, whereas in truth it is a sure sign of strength.
An organisation is only as strong as its individual employees, who in return are only as strong as their capabilities allow. Once the first brick falls the domino effect will soon be evident.
As a final illustration, about two years ago we planned to run a time-management workshop for public health professionals. The workshop did not take place because no-one could find the time to come.
Roger Lincoln Administrator Public Health and Health Professional Development Unit Lancaster University
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