Doing What Matters in Times of Stress: An Illustrated Guide is a World Health Organization self-help guide for managing stress and coping with adversity.

The guide is designed for anyone experiencing stress, wherever they live and whatever their circumstances. It uses simple illustrations and practical exercises to help people build skills they can use in daily life.

The guide covers five key skills:

• grounding
• unhooking from difficult thoughts and feelings
• acting on your values
• being kind
• making room for difficult feelings

A few minutes of practice each day can help people learn and use the techniques. The guide can be used on its own or with WHO’s accompanying audio exercises.

This resource may be useful for people looking for practical stress management tools, as well as professionals and community organisations signposting to evidence-informed self-help supports.

When to seek more support

Self-help tools can be useful, but they are not a replacement for urgent or ongoing professional support. If stress feels unmanageable, or the exercises are not enough, contact your GP, a trusted health or social care professional, or a local support service.

If you or someone you know is at immediate risk, call 999 or 112, go to your nearest A&E, or contact your GP.