News 

Release date: 19 May 2010

With over nine million people experiencing unhealthy levels of stress each year, Australians are taking more than 6.2 million days off on stress leave.

That's according to Lifeline, who is calling on the public to get behind their national fund raiser, Stress Down Day on the 23rd of July.

Stress Down Day encourages participants to dress up or down, or be daring and wear their slippers to work or school and help raise money for Lifeline. To register for Stress Down Day, or for further information visit www.stressdown.org.au.

All donations raised on Stress Down Day will be used to enhance local services or support Lifeline's 24 hour crisis telephone support service - 13 11 14. Lifeline's 24 hour crisis telephone support service helps over 1,250 people everyday. That's a new call every minute.

For some people a call to Lifeline is literally life saving.

Lifeline Australia Ambassador, Steve Bastoni, said "our lives are becoming more and more demanding; we tend to forget about our wellbeing and the impact our busy lifestyle is having on our health.

"Prolonged stress can be harmful on both our physical and mental health, which is why we need to take time out from stress and relax. Stress Down Day is a perfect opportunity to do this and it's for a great cause."

Lifeline spokesman, Chris Wagner, said "Australians are working longer hours than most other countries in the OECD. One result of this could be more cases of prolonged and extreme stress, which is not good for our health.

"That's why we want Aussies to take at least one day off from stress, and join us on the 23rd of July for Stress Down Day. Help us continue to provide support for around one million people a year through our phone lines, Centres and other programs."

Diary Note: Stress Down Day – Friday 23rd July 2010. Lifeline will be providing a range of hard news angles throughout the campaign, as well as providing access to available celebrity ambassadors. For more details contact Chris Wagner on the number below.

Media Contact: Chris Wagner, Lifeline Australia (ph: 02 6215 9446 or 0434 378 939)


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