How to Make Mental Health Awareness Week A Success

Our Top 10 Tips

1. Prepare ahead

Start planning for Mental Health Awareness Week well in advance. This ensures you have enough time to organise events, activities, and internal communications.

2. Incorporate the theme

Familiarise yourself with the theme and consider how it can be incorporated into your organisation’s activities. This year’s theme is movement. So, you could consider incorporating movement-focused activities alongside broader mental health training and initiatives.

3. Involve employees

Learn more about what will resonate with your employees by involving them in the planning process. You could share polls to gain a consensus on the type of activities employees want to engage in.

If you have Wellbeing Champions in your organisation, consider seeking their input as well. They are on the ground with your people and can act as ambassadors for your campaign.

4. Share resources

Ensure that employees know what mental health support is available to them. Use the week as an opportunity to signpost resources such as Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs), Mental Health First Aiders or Wellbeing Champions and self-help materials.

5. Think creatively about how you’ll spread the message

Effective promotion is integral to making the week a success. Consider using a range of communication channels to promote your activity and speak about mental health more broadly. Creative ways of communicating could include managers and leaders sharing their stories, using the company social media, and internal messaging platforms (e.g., Teams).

6. Offer mental health training

Mental health training has numerous benefits for everyone. It deepens understanding and promotes a culture of understanding. When participants have greater awareness, they are better equipped to spot signs of poor mental health and develop effective support strategies.

7. Engage leadership

Leaders have an important role to play when it comes to mental health advocacy. Encourage leaders and managers to lead by example and actively participate in Mental Health Awareness Week activities.

8. Host events

Mental Health Awareness Week is all about bringing people together. Host virtual or in-person events and encourage people to share experiences, deepen their awareness, and learn new practical skills.

9. Collect feedback

Mental Health Awareness Week lasts for 7 days, but the importance of raising awareness is year-round. Continue promoting mental health support by integrating long-term initiatives into the organisation’s ongoing policies, programmes, and culture.

10. Sustain momentum

Mental Health Awareness Week lasts for 7 days, but the importance of raising awareness is year-round. Continue promoting mental health support by integrating long-term initiatives into the organisation’s ongoing policies, programmes, and culture.

Conclusion

Mental Health Awareness Week is an important occasion for organisations to demonstrate their commitment to supporting workplace mental health. However, building a successful series of activities can be a challenge. By following these ten tips, you will be equipped to create a Mental Health Awareness Week programme that your people resonate with.

Mental Health Awareness Week lasts for 7 days, but the importance of raising awareness is year-round. Continue promoting mental health support by integrating long-term initiatives into the organisation’s ongoing policies, programmes, and culture.