What Is Mental Health Awareness Week?

Every year, Mental Health Awareness Week offers an opportunity to reflect on an issue that affects us all but often goes unspoken. Hosted by the Mental Health Foundation, the week shines a light on the importance of looking after our mental well-being, not just in our personal lives, but at work too.

This year, Mental Health Awareness Week from 12th – 18th May shines a spotlight on the theme of community which aims to recognise the role our connections and shared spaces play in supporting mental wellbeing.

In 2025, as we face the ongoing challenges of modern working life such as stress, burnout, and digital overload, this week feels more relevant than ever.

We spend a significant portion of our lives at work. For many, it’s where we experience our greatest pressures, deadlines, and social expectations. It’s also a place where poor mental health can quietly grow if not addressed.

According to Mental Health Charity, Mind, 1 in 6 British workers experience a mental health problem such as anxiety or depression in any given week. Yet, stigma and silence often stop people from seeking help.

It’s not just about personal well-being, it’s also about performance, retention, and workplace culture. When mental health is ignored, absenteeism rises, productivity drops, and people disengage.

Mental Health Awareness Week aims to start conversations and encourage action. Each year focuses on a theme. Past themes have included loneliness, anxiety, and movement. These themes provide a lens through which we can examine how mental health shows up in different areas of our lives.

For workplaces, it’s a chance to:

  • Run workshops or webinars on mental health
  • Share employee stories or lived experiences
  • Offer resources like mental health first aiders or counselling services
  • Promote healthy work-life balance policies
  • Create a culture of openness and support

You don’t need to be a therapist to support someone’s mental health. Sometimes, small actions make the biggest difference:

  • Check in with colleagues, especially those who seem withdrawn
  • Model balance by setting healthy boundaries with time and workload
  • Normalise conversations about stress, anxiety, and burnout
  • Speak up if something isn’t working, whether it’s unrealistic deadlines or lack of support

Mental Health Awareness Week isn’t about token gestures. It’s a reminder that we all have a role to play. Whether you’re an employer, a team leader, or a colleague, this week is your chance to prioritise well-being and build a workplace where people feel safe, supported, and valued because when we care about mental health at work, everyone benefits.

At BNSHE Consultancy, we offer a variety of Mental Health training courses. To find out more, visit bnsheconsultancy.com.

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