Mental Health Reducing Stress

Chronic Stress

Chronic stress can negatively impact both physical and mental health. Understand the difference between stress and anxiety.

Strategies to Reduce Stress

Meditation is a mental practice where you train your mind to focus and not be distracted by unwanted thoughts.

Yoga involves both physical and mental exercise. It primarily involves poses and breathing exercises to achieve physical and mental health benefits.

Sleep plays a vital role in good health and well-being throughout your life.

Relaxation Techniques may be helpful in managing a variety of health conditions.

NIH Programs

NIH programs are available to help with stressful situations.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP). EAP offers emotional wellness screening to help determine if you are experiencing symptoms of anxiety, depression, and/or excess alcohol use. After completing the screening, you can schedule a brief in-person consultation to review the result.
Civil Program. If you know of a workplace situation involving uncivil behavior, contact the Civil Program.
Office of the Ombudsman. Informal, confidential, independent and impartial resource for the entire NIH community to:

Discuss challenges and opportunities
Provide strategies for professional development and personal empowerment

Crisis Hotlines

Current trends in the workplace indicates the American workforce is becoming more mindful. See articles below that provide useful information on mindfulness practices and their impact at the workplace.

Mindfulness at the Workplace

Boosting Productivity at Work: How Mindfulness Training Helps

Yoga typically combines physical postures, breathing exercises, and meditation or relaxation. Yoga is a mind and body practice with origins in ancient Indian philosophy. people who practice yoga believe that it improves their general well-being, and there is beginning to be evidence that it may help with some aspects of wellness including stress management, balance, positive aspects of mental health, and promoting healthy eating and physical activity habits.