South West 'most stressed'

South West residents favour taking a walk to relieve stress

The South West is the most stressed region in the UK, according to a survey.

The Samaritans charity polled more than 1,800 people across the UK.

A total of 50% of those polled in the South West said they suffered from stress at least twice a week.

This compared to 48% in the West Midlands and 40% in London, with Scotland being the least stressed region with 37%.

South West inhabitants said work was the biggest cause of stress, with money and families coming close behind as major factors.

Nearly half of those polled living in the South West said they felt more stressed than they were five years ago.

If feelings are bottled up or ignored, they can lead to more severe emotional distress in the long run

Simon Armson, Samaritans

In 48% of cases, this stress led to depression, according to the survey.

Studies suggest people with high levels of stress have an increased chance of suffering a heart attack or stroke.

The survey showed that large numbers compounded those health risks by turning to alcohol and cigarettes to try to relax.

Bottled up But in the South West, 38% of respondents took a walk to relieve stress, with 25% having a drink, 17% smoking a cigarette and 16% just bottling up their problems.

Simon Armson, the charity's chief executive, said the findings showed many people were failing to deal properly with stress.

"If feelings are bottled up or ignored, they can lead to more severe emotional distress in the long run.

"Ultimately, by talking about problems, it's possible to gain a sense of perspective that can make it easier to cope."