Stress is the "wear and tear" our bodies experience as we adjust to our continually changing environment; it has physical and emotional effects on us and can create positive or negative feelings. As a positive influence, stress can help compel us to action; it can result in a new awareness and an exciting new perspective. As a negative influence, it can result in feelings of distrust, rejection, anger, and depression, which in turn can lead to health problems such as headaches, upset stomach, rashes, insomnia, ulcers, high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. With the death of a loved one, the birth of a child, a job promotion, or a new relationship, we experience stress as we readjust our lives. In so adjusting to different circumstances, stress will help or hinder us depending on how we react to it. You may check out your stress levels through the 'Adult Stress Scale'.

IHS "Stress at Work Place" trainings are conducted by Mauna Gohar, a Clinical Psychologist & Reiki Master and Dr. Asim Mahmood Khan, an Occupational Health specialist. Besides "Stress at Work" trainings IHS also conducts short courses on the following:

• Anger Management

• Gender Issues

• Going thru Adolescent

• Emotional Intelligence

IHS facilitators use variety of training methods for each workshop, including group discussions, individual work and reflection, individual counseling sessions and exercises, case studies and simulations for role play.  

Customization of training to the organization's needs is based on information provided by the human resource department or the individual employees prior to the workshop through a 'Training Need Analysis'.

These are interactive workshops with a 40/60 split between concept/theory and practical application of skills discussed. Group size should be kept under 25 so that each participant can have an equal opportunity to learn.

Following are the four main areas which encompass the content of all IHS Stress Management Workshops:

1. How stressed are you?

2. Stress- proofing your lifestyle

3. Ways to relax

4. Dealing with high stress situations

Details of individual modules are mentioned below:

An interactive session being conducted by IHS master trainer Dr. Alamgir Khan - Swiss Development Agency, Islamabad, April 2003

MODULE-1:

One day 6-hrs. Six Session of one hour each

OBJECTIVES: To establish that work stress is an adverse reaction due to various controllable and preventable reasons, identify causes and plans and implement stress reducing strategies to minimize ill effects of stress on subordinates in order to develop a healthy work force that can understand and implement the targets designed by the top management with out feeling undue stress. 

WHO SHOULD ATTEND: Senior and mid level managers. Data and computer operators.

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: 14—20(companies can nominate lesser number of participants to attend the combined workshop)

WORKSHOP FEE: Rs.6,000/- per participants or Rs.60,000/- for corporate employees in groups of 12 to 26 persons.

DIVISION OF SESSIONS:

Session one: Stress, its definition, types, causes and effects

Session two: Sources of workspaces stress –For you and your subordinates

Session three: Signs and symptoms of stress, adverse health effects of job Stress, financial repercussions of job stress.

                                            -Tea Break-

Session four: Ranking of stressful occupations (targeted to the participant's occupation) based on interactive suggestions

Session five: Managing and preventing stress, exercises, meditation, medical treatment ,modification of attitudes and behavior.

Session six: Stress reduction strategy and program for the participant's organization.

OUTCOMES: The participants should be able to identify and rectify the causes of stress among themselves and people who work with them by adopting and implementing measures and programs to reduce stress through inter departmental stress prevention committees.

Participants of "Stress at Workplace" workshop from Upjohn Pharmaceutical at Rawalpindi - October 2005 

MODULE –2:

Two days –Two sessions of two hours each every day. This workshop can also be carried out in one day over four sessions.

OBJECTIVES: For busy people in the op management to understand stress-reducing strategies to minimize it's adverse effect on themselves and their employees for successful running of the organization in a short time.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND: Top management, senior managers and decision-makers in corporate and industrial setups.

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: 14—26 (companies can nominate lesser number of participants to attend the combined public workshops at our training room in Islamabad)

CHARGES: Rs.5,000/- per participants or Rs.50,000/- for the whole group.

DAY-1:

Session one: Stress, its definition, types, causes and sources
Session two: Signs and symptoms of stress, adverse health effects Financial repercussions.

DAY –2:

Session one: Managing stress, self and others exercises medical treatment.
Session two: Stress reduction strategy and the program for the participant's organization.

OUTCOMES: All Participants should be able to develop stress prevention policy for their staff with out compromising on additional workload or job requirements in order to get the maximum output from their subordinates.

Group photo of participants of Pakistan Tobacco Company - Akora Khattak, January 2003

MODULE –3:

Two days 4-hrs daily. Four sessions of one hour each very day.

OBJECTIVE: To understand stress in detail, identify causes and plans and implement stress reducing strategies at the highest level to minimize the adverse effects of stress on the employees and the organization and increase employee output.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND: Top executives and senior managers in corporate and industrial setups.

PREFERRED NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS:12-20 (companies can nominate lesser number of participants to attend the combined workshop)

CHARGES: Rs.8,000/- per participants or Rs.75,000/- for the whole group.

DAY-1

Session one: Phenomenon of stress, its definition, types, causes

Session two: Sources of work place stress Type A& B personalities

-Break-

Session three: Signs and symptoms of stress, adverse health effects of job Stress financial repercussions of job stress.
 

Session four: Effectiveness of stress management and training Workshops.

DAY-2

Session one: Ranking on stressful occupation (targeted to the Participant's occupation) based on interactive suggestions.

Session two: Managing and preventing stress.

Session three: Tips on how to deal with stress, exercises, meditation, HR Responsibilities, medical treatment, and management actions.

Session four: Stress reduction strategy and program for the participant's organization.

OUTCOME: All Participants should be able to develop stress prevention policy for their staff with out compromising on additional workload or job requirements in order to get the maximum output from their subordinates

A trainee receiving 'certificate of participation' - Upjhon Pharmaceutical, Oct 2005. IHS lead trainer Dr. Usman Hadi can be seen in the background