How to Ensure Mental Health Awareness Week 2025 is a Success

How to plan for mental health awareness week

For organisations, Mental Health Awareness Week presents an ideal opportunity. Activities for Mental Health Awareness Week bring people together. They help people feel valued and empowered. Here are some ideas to plan for success.

1. Prepare ahead

Start planning early. Ensure you have time to organise events, activities and internal communications. Set clear objectives to shape your approach. Examples include raising awareness, boosting engagement or developing new skills.

2. Involve Employees

Ask employees what they’d find most helpful through quick polls. Incorporating their preferences fosters a sense of ownership and invites engagement. If you have Wellbeing Champions, involve them in the planning process.

3. Get Creative with Communications

Promote your Mental Health Awareness Week activities for work across different channels. Use email bulletins and your company’s internal messaging platform. Messages from senior leaders or managers show your company’s commitment.

4. Engage Leadership

When leaders champion mental health initiatives, it shows that the organisation cares. Encourage leadership teams to attend events, and take part in discussions. This visibility can boost engagement among the wider workforce.

5. Embrace the theme

Embrace the theme of the year. This year the theme is community. So, centre your activities around connection and support.

What Mental Health Awareness Week Activities to Try

1. Share Accessible Mental Health Resources

Use Mental Health Awareness Week to spotlight mental health resources. Highlight Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs), Wellbeing Champions, or self-help materials. Encourage people to seek help when needed.

2. Offer Relevant Mental Health Training and Workshops

Workplace mental health training empowers both employees and leaders with essential skills. These include spotting early signs of stress and creating psychological safety.

3. Host Interactive Events

Encourage open dialogue about mental health. Bring people together for virtual or in-person events that focus on mental health. This could include panel discussions, peer-led workshops or social events.

4. Encourage Physical Activity

Movement boosts morale, and encourages informal chats between colleagues. Schedule group walks, stretch breaks or low-key physical activities throughout the week.

5. Launch a Volunteering or Community Initiative

Giving back to the community can foster a sense of shared purpose. Support a local charity or organise a volunteer day. Celebrate this collective effort and the impact it has on the community.

How to Maintain the Momentum of Mental Health Awareness Week

Mental Health Awareness Week lasts seven days, but the journey to a healthy workplace continues. Here are some ideas to keep the momentum.

1. Gather and Act on Feedback

Ask participants for feedback on your events and resources. What resonated most? Which sessions had the highest impact on team morale or knowledge? This data will help you plan future mental health initiatives.

2. Provide Ongoing Training

Reinforce and build on the learning of the week. Equip managers and employees with the tools to build their resilience.

3. Set Up Peer Support Groups

Encourage employees to form small groups dedicated to supporting each other’s wellbeing. These groups can meet regularly to share coping strategies, discuss challenges and provide mutual encouragement.

4. Train a Team of Mental Health First Aiders

Train a select group of employees to become Mental Health First Aiders. Mental Health First Aiders offer initial support, and guide colleagues to professional help if needed.

Mental Health Awareness Week FAQs

What is mental health awareness week?

Mental Health Awareness Week highlights the importance of mental wellbeing. Each year focusses on a different theme and aims to reduce mental health stigma.

When is mental health awareness week?

Mental Health Awareness Week takes place in May each year. For instance, in 2025, it falls from Monday, 12 May to Sunday, 18 May.

Conclusion

Mental Health Awareness Week 2025 is an ideal time to build a stronger sense of community at work. Start planning early, involve employees, and offer varied activities so everyone feels valued. Don’t worry about being perfect – gather feedback and keep improving. The week lasts only seven days, but you carry the positive changes forward all year.