Brain researcher warns that avoiding stress harms especially young people, urging a healthier relationship with pressure
Executive summary: Neuroscientist Volker Busch, head of a stress clinic, told Handelsblatt that trying to avoid stress altogether harms especially younger people, who damage themselves by refusing to engage with pressure. The warning challenges prevailing wellness trends that seek to eliminate stress, signaling a shift toward resilience‑building and potentially reshaping corporate mental‑health spending.
Who is involved: Volker Busch (brain researcher, stress clinic), Handelsblatt (publisher), younger workers and employees, corporate wellness providers.
Likely next: Companies will invest more in resilience training and stress‑inoculation programs; policymakers may revisit workplace psychosocial guidelines; digital mental‑health platforms could see increased adoption.
The Handelsblatt interview with Volker Busch challenges the common urge to eliminate stress entirely, arguing that especially younger individuals harm themselves by trying to avoid pressure at all costs. By framing stress as an inevitable and potentially beneficial part of life, the piece highlights a growing debate over workplace wellness and mental‑health strategies. The message is timely as companies reassess resilience programs amid rising AI‑driven workplace change.
Analysis — what this means
Likely next events
- Increased corporate investment in resilience training
- Growth in demand for digital mental‑health and stress‑monitoring tools
- Further neuroscientific research on stress inoculation
Sectors affected
- Corporate wellness
- Healthcare
- HR technology
- Insurance
Regulatory implications
- EU OSHA may update psychosocial risk guidelines
Historical parallels
- 2022 Handelsblatt CEO resilience tips on stress and crises
- 2020 WHO guidelines on workplace mental health
- 2018 rise in corporate mindfulness programs
Related cases
- Neuroscientist warns that trying to eliminate stress completely can harm young workers and undermine workplace health
- Stress researcher warns that avoiding stress harms resilience, especially for younger workers
- German CEOs employ resilience tactics that can boost performance by up to 25% amid mounting pressures
- Executive resilience techniques can boost managerial performance by up to 25% under stress
- Tips for stress‑free vacations aim to improve employee wellbeing and sustain post‑vacation productivity
- Top managers' stress‑resilience tactics can boost performance by up to 25% in crises