I SPECIALISE in stress assessment and management. The stress related illnesses are anxiety, panic and depression mainly, but include all other mental health issues. Even the more genetic or the inherited types such as Bipolar and Schizophrenia can be precipitated, aggravated or made worse by stress.

Sadly, most mental issues are taboo and subject to stigma. When I started to work in this area over 20 years ago stress wasn’t considered a real illness. It was considered something that everyone experienced and just needed to get on with. We now have firm evidence of the link between stress and physical and mental illness.