OWC Health Awareness Series: Stress Awareness Month April
April is Stress Awareness Month – an annual campaign running since 1992, coordinated by the Stress Management Society. The 2026 theme is #BeTheChange: a call to shift the conversation from passive awareness to active, personal responsibility for managing stress before it becomes a health crisis.
Stress is not a soft issue. Chronic stress is a clinical risk factor for cardiovascular disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and immune dysfunction. It disrupts sleep, impairs cognitive function, and drives some of the most expensive conditions in any health insurance portfolio. The WHO estimates that depression and anxiety – two of the most common consequences of unmanaged chronic stress – cost the global economy US$1 trillion per year in lost productivity.
For internationally mobile employees, the picture is more acute. Relocation, cultural adjustment, family pressure, high-accountability roles, and uncertainty about healthcare access create a structurally higher stress burden. Addressing it is not a wellbeing nice-to-have. It is a business and health imperative.
About the OWC Health Awareness Series
One World Cover’s Health Awareness Series is a year-long program designed to help employers of globally mobile staff shine a spotlight on critical health issues. Each month we highlight one or more key condition or area of wellbeing – sharing practical resources, workplace tools, and communication materials that HR teams can use to educate and engage their employees. The aim is simple: to encourage prevention, promote early detection, and empower organizations to support the long-term health of their people.
READ MORE >> One World Cover’s Health Awareness Series: 2025-26 Refresh, New Topics
Understanding the Scale
- 77% of people regularly experience physical symptoms caused by stress (American Psychological Association).
- 1 in 4 workers say their job is the number one stressor in their life.
- US$1 trillion is lost annually in global productivity due to depression and anxiety (World Health Organization).
- Cardiovascular risk: Chronic stress raises the risk of heart disease by up to 40% through sustained cortisol and adrenaline elevation.
- Return on investment: For every $1 invested in mental health treatment, the WHO estimates a $4 return in improved health and productivity.
Did you know? Stress does not just affect how people feel – it changes how the body functions. Chronic cortisol elevation disrupts sleep architecture, impairs glucose regulation, promotes systemic inflammation, and suppresses immune function. These are not abstract risks. They are the mechanisms behind some of the most common and costly conditions in internationally mobile workforces.
What You Can Do
- Move your body: 30 minutes of moderate exercise measurably reduces cortisol. A brisk walk counts.
- Protect your sleep: Stress and poor sleep reinforce each other. A consistent sleep schedule is one of the most effective stress management tools available.
- Set boundaries with work: Chronic overwork is the most common driver of occupational stress. Sustainable performance requires recovery time.
- Connect with others: Social connection is one of the most robust buffers against stress – prioritise it, even when time is short.
- Seek support early: Use your Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) or mental health benefit. Talking to a professional is a sensible early intervention, not a last resort.
READ MORE >> Mental Health Trends 2025 for Global Employers of Expats
How Employers Can Support Stress Awareness
Stress Awareness Month is a useful prompt for HR and benefits leaders to assess whether your organization’s culture, workload, and benefits design are genuinely supporting employee mental health – or inadvertently contributing to the problem.
- Normalize the conversation: Leadership modelling matters. Create a culture where discussing stress is not stigmatised.
- Promote EAP utilization: Many employees do not know their EAP exists or how to access it. Active communication drives utilisation.
- Review workload and resourcing: Assess whether teams are adequately resourced for current demands.
Ensure mental health is covered: Check that your international health insurance plan includes outpatient therapy and psychiatric care. Some plans require this to be added as an optional benefit.
Resources: Employee Toolkits/Educational Materials
UK Stress Management Society >> Stress Awareness Month Page
UK Stress Management Society >> Stress Awareness Month Resources
Change Mental Health Charity >> Stress Awareness Month Page
UK Health and Safety Executive >> Working Minds Campaign
World Health Organization >> Mental Health at Work Page
# Common social media hashtags for stress awareness
#StressAwarenessMonth #BeTheChange #BurnoutPrevention
Why Stress Awareness Matters for Employers
Stress is one of the most significant and most underaddressed drivers of healthcare cost and productivity loss in internationally mobile workforces. The conditions it drives – cardiovascular disease, hypertension, depression – are consistently among the highest-cost claim categories in international health insurance portfolios.
The employers who take stress seriously are the ones who build cultures that retain talent, reduce absenteeism, and generate better long-term health outcomes for their people. When you invest in mental health awareness, you are investing in the sustainability of your workforce.
At One World Cover, we help international employers ensure that mental health support is embedded in their benefits design, not treated as an afterthought. If you would like to discuss how your current plan addresses stress and mental health, or how to communicate this resource to your employees, our team is here to help.
🆘🆘🆘 If You Are in Crisis or Feeling Unsafe
If you are in a crisis (or another person may be in danger), are having thoughts of suicide, self-harm, or feel unable to stay safe, please seek help immediately.
You are not alone – support is available. The below resources can offer immediate help:
Dropdown list of international crisis centres and suicide hotlines (listed by country): www.betterhelp.com/gethelpnow
List of international suicide hotlines (listed by country): blog.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines
Reaching out is a sign of strength. Help is available now.
Select EAP or IEAP Services:
Allianz Asia / Allianz Care
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https://awcsexpat.one.telushealth.com/home
Username: AllianzCare / Password: Expatriate
Allianz China
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APRIL Asia
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Cigna International
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Cigna China
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Cigna Africa
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cignaglobal.powerflexweb.com
MSH China
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Now Health China
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Prosper Health (China)
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Surego
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TieCare Connect
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tiecareconnect.com
Popular Expat Telehealth Therapy / Mental Health Providers:
Online counselling service for expats, providing culturally sensitive therapy in multiple languages- accessible from anywhere.
Cost: EUR130 (~US$150)
International teletherapy provider offering video sessions with therapists experienced in supporting expats’ mental health.
Cost: US$225-275
Online therapy platform. Cost: US$90 (BetterHelp operates on a subscription model: US$360/month for 4 sessions. Only sessions that actually happen will be reimbursed by PassportCard).
EAD MORE >> Are Subscription-Based Online Therapy Services Like BetterHelp Covered by International Health Insurance?
OWC Care: Personalised Health Support
OWC Care is your personalised health concierge service – here to support you with hospital navigation, accessing your insurer’s second opinion service, and assistance with complex treatment planning. Whether you’re dealing with a serious diagnosis or just need help finding the right provider, our team is here to guide you, every step of the way. **
** Important Note: While we help guide members to high-quality options, OWC Care does not act as a medical referral service. The final decision on where to seek care rests with the individual. We are not liable for any decisions made by the member or the medical provider.
