Stress is a natural human response to pressure when faced with challenging situations. Some stress helps increase our alertness and energy to meet challenging situations.

Emotional stress or stress from fatigue and over work can be detrimental to our physical and mental wellbeing.

Stress is unhelpful when we have:

• Feelings of exhaustion

• Loss of interest

• Experience headaches, aches and pains

• Feelings of irritability, angriness, depression, lost and overwhelmed

Ways to deal with stress

• Take time to look after yourself physically and emotionally – STOP! BREATHE!

• Allocate time for activities that you enjoy (not during work hours)

• Make time for friends and family amid other priorities – strong connections with loved ones are good for mental health

• Discuss your feelings with friends and family or Doctor

• Exercise and healthy diet

• Talk to someone! 

Citipointe does not tolerate bullying or aggression in the workplace.  This section is to help you identify types of aggressive behaviour and what you should do in the unlikely event it takes place. 

Aggressive behaviour is:

• Threatening behaviour – e.g. destroying property or throwing objects.

• Verbal or written threats – any expression of intent to inflict harm.

• Harassment – any behaviour that bullies, demeans, embarrasses, humiliates, annoys, alarms or verbally abuses a person and that is known or would be expected to be unwelcome. This includes words, gestures, intimidation, bullying, or other inappropriate activities.

• Verbal abuse – swearing, insults or condescending language.

• Physical attacks – hitting, shoving, pushing or kicking.

There is a potential for aggressive behaviour when:

• Working with others in the workplace who are in distress

• Investigating and enforcing legal requirements

• Working with people who may be intoxicated

• Working with people who are disturbed or violent

• Working where drugs are kept and handled

• Dealing with frustrated people

• Denying someone a service

• Working alone or in isolation

• Working at night

• Walking to cars or public transport alone at night