How Stress Control at Home Was Born: Supporting Mental Health During Covid-19

By 2020, Stress Control was well-established within the NHS across the UK. Our in-person classes had been rolled out across Ireland and Northern Ireland, and more NHS services in England, Scotland and Wales were adopting it to support people struggling with stress, anxiety and depression. The programme had also been adopted internationally, e.g. Continental, the German multinational, offered it to employees worldwide—and its effectiveness had been validated through numerous research studies.

However, at that point, we had not yet explored the possibility of adapting Stress Control into an online mental health course.

Then Covid-19 hit...

 

Responding to the Mental Health Crisis During Covid-19 Lockdown

…And everything came to a standstill. With lockdown restrictions in place, services were unable to run community-based classes or offer individual therapy. Many services contacted us to ask whether we could help in any way. Aware that it would take time for the NHS in the UK and the HSE in Ireland to transition to online service delivery, we decided to rapidly develop an online version of Stress Control.

We offered the course free of charge to national health services as part of our commitment to supporting mental health during the Covid-19 pandemic. Our aim was to provide timely support to existing Stress Control attendees whose classes had been suspended, as well as individuals who could no longer access one-to-one therapy.

We also recognised that many people were feeling overwhelmed by the uncertainty and disruption caused by the pandemic—particularly during the spring and summer of 2020, when the strictest lockdown measures were in place. To help address this widespread distress, we extended the course to anyone experiencing Covid-related stress, anxiety, or depression.

Our goal was to deliver an evidence-based, early intervention—offering support ‘upstream’ to help prevent mental health problems from worsening and reduce the demand for more intensive services further ‘downstream’.

 

Creating the First Online Version of Stress Control

We reached out to Matt Harvey at Maybank Studios in Glasgow, who we have worked with for years to record our relaxation tracks and film videos to help us quickly film the course and set up a YouTube channel to host it. Working against the clock, we filmed the whole course on the 2nd and 3rd of April with Dr Jim White presenting it. Editing and website creation happened right up to the launch of the first session on the 13th of April.

Reaching Thousands with Covid Mental Health Support

We worked closely with our partners in the NHS and HSE to promote the online course within their local areas. To support this, we provided simple, one-page adverts that could be adapted to suit regional needs. Health services in Northern Ireland and Ireland were particularly proactive in publicising the programme and ensuring it reached their communities.

Media coverage also played a significant role in raising awareness. Local newspapers, a mention on RTÉ’s The Late Late Show, and social media support from well-known figures such as Dr Hilary Jones all contributed to expanding our reach. Even football clubs, such as Glasgow Rangers, helped amplify our message—enabling us to connect with traditionally hard-to-reach groups, e.g. working-class men.

 

Live Streaming the Sessions

To replicate the sense of community found in our in-person Stress Control classes, we decided to livestream each session. Using YouTube’s Premiere feature, participants could join in real time and connect with others through the live chat. This interactive element helped foster a feeling of shared experience—something especially valuable during lockdown, when many were facing isolation, loneliness, and uncertainty. People shared advice, encouragement and empathy. Many expressed that they felt “in the same boat” as others—something deeply meaningful during a time of widespread Covid isolation.

The course ran over three weeks, beginning on 13 April, with two sessions streamed each week. To maximise accessibility, each session was broadcast twice—at 2:00 pm and again at 8:30 pm. Session 1 was shown four times (on Mondays and Tuesdays) to give participants multiple opportunities to join the course from the start. In between sessions, participants were encouraged to read the accompanying booklets and complete the recommended homework activities to reinforce their learning.

 

Outcomes

YouTube analytics showed that around 7,000 people completed the first run of the course. Thanks to overwhelmingly positive feedback, we ran it again in May 2020—with nearly 10,000 people taking part. Most watched the afternoon sessions, reflecting the fact that many were home during the day due to lockdown.

The largest audiences came from Northern Ireland and Ireland—likely because the Stress Control programme was already familiar to people there, and the local health teams did an excellent job promoting it.

 

What Participants Told Us

We invited participants to complete an evaluation form. The majority reported that their stress was not caused by Covid-19, but rather that they had been living with long-term difficulties related to stress, anxiety, and depression. Many saw the course as a valuable opportunity to learn effective self-help strategies to manage these challenges.

Key feedback highlights:

• 99% agreed or strongly agreed that the course was of great benefit.
• 100% found the Stress Control booklets and relaxation exercises helpful or very helpful.
• 98% would recommend the course to a friend.

 

“What a wonderful class this has been. I know there are no miracle cures, but I now feel I understand what my stress is all about, and I know the way forward. For the first time in many years, I see some light at the end of the tunnel.”

— Course participant, Ireland, April 2020

 

When asked about preferences for future delivery:

• 46% preferred online delivery.
• 8% preferred community-based classes.
• 27% would attend either.
• 19% wanted access to both.

Clinicians and GPs also shared how valuable the course was for their patients.

 

"Many thanks for the wonderful course that you have put together. I consider that your series is one of the best and most engaging courses in helping people to understand and manage stress that I have seen. And, as a Chartered Clinical and Educational Psychologist with 40+ years experience I have attended multiple courses in the past, so thank you and well done!"

— Dr Fíona Kelly Meldon,
Chartered Clinical and Educational Psychologist

 

Following the success of the classes, online courses continued across Ireland and Northern Ireland, reaching around 400,000 participants so far. 

 

From Emergency Response to Long-Term Innovation

We moved Stress Control online out of necessity—but it has since evolved into a lasting, scalable solution for supporting mental health.

Our new online course Stress Control at Home course builds on this success, offering a greatly improved user experience with updated video content, supporting materials and new website. Designed to help individuals manage stress and improve their wellbeing, the course can be completed from the comfort of home, at a pace and time that suits them. Its flexible format allows users to access all materials whenever it fits their schedule—ideal for those balancing work, family, or other commitments that make in-person support difficult. It’s also perfect for those who prefer online learning, while providing a far more cost-effective alternative to private therapy.

The programme includes:
• 12 video sessions presented by Dr Jim White
• Comprehensive booklets for each session
• A wide range of relaxation and mindfulness tracks
• Self-assessment tools to monitor stress, anxiety, and overall wellbeing
• Quizzes to consolidate learning and track progress

Participants receive 12 months of full access, with the option to pause or extend as needed.

 

Mental Health Innovation in the Face of Crisis

Covid-19 was an extraordinarily challenging time for individuals and healthcare systems alike. Yet, it also became a catalyst for innovation—prompting new ways to deliver accessible, high-quality mental health support.

Stress Control Online emerged as one of these innovations: an evidence-based programme that reached thousands of people struggling with stress, anxiety, and depression during the pandemic. Today Stress Control at Home, continues to grow as a flexible, scalable solution for promoting mental wellbeing. In addition to supporting individuals, Stress Control at Home is now widely used by businesses and public sector bodies as part of their workplace wellbeing strategies, helping employees manage stress and maintain good mental health in a proactive and practical way.