Half of the 23 million Australian population are experiencing a high level of stress that could be making them sick, shows a new Lifeline Stress Poll facilitated by Newspoll.

In its fourth year, the new poll conducted as part of Lifeline’s Stress Down day has found that Aussies’ stress levels continue to rise each year, with an alarming amount of people experiencing high levels of stress at work and at home.

Some 93 per cent of Australians are stressed this year, up from 90 per cent in 2010, and 48 per cent are experiencing high levels of stress, up from 43 per cent this time last year.

“Lifeline is seriously concerned about the high levels of stress in our community, and it’s getting worse,” Lifeline spokesperson Brendan Maher said today.

“For years we have been concerned about the high levels of extreme stress in Australia, and each year it grows. This year we can put some of it down to the natural disasters affecting our nation, but much of it will be due to poor stress management.”

Australians work very long hours and so it is no surprise to Lifeline that work is the number one stressor for the country, this was followed by thoughts of the future, finances, health and personal relationships.

Women are experiencing more stress than men, and in particular more high levels of stress than men (52 per cent to 44 per cent respectively). People living in big cities are slightly more stressed than country folk.

Bupa Health and Wellness Advisor Guy Leech says “Aussies must take stress management more seriously because stress can have very real and detrimental effects; from an adverse impact on our physical appearance to our ability to sleep, and direct impacts on our internal organs. This is serious stuff.”