Mental Health Awareness Week: Dates and Workplace Activities

When is Mental Health Awareness Week?

For reference: the 2026 campaign ran from 11–17 May, with the theme Action. Do not reuse that theme as though it has been announced for 2027.

You can reserve time and agree the purpose of your activities now. Check the organiser’s page again before printing materials or announcing a theme.

Give the week a useful purpose

Choose an outcome people can recognise afterwards. “Everyone knows where to ask for support” is more useful than a calendar full of activities with no clear purpose.

For employers in Great Britain, the week can support ongoing work rather than replace it: HSE says employers must assess work-related stress risks and act on them.

Five practical ideas for your workplace

This is a suggested workplace plan, not the Mental Health Foundation’s official programme. Adapt it to shifts, remote workers and the time people can realistically attend.

1. 1

   Start with a clear support map

   Share one short message explaining where people can get help, how to contact the relevant person and what to expect. Include an option for someone who does not want to approach their line manager.

2. 2

   Offer a private reflection activity

   Our stress bucket tool and worksheet can help people think about pressures and coping strategies. Make participation optional and let people keep their answers. Do not collect completed personal worksheets.

3. 3

   Talk about how work is organised

   Use a team discussion to identify a practical pressure you can change, such as conflicting priorities or unclear handovers. Record the work issue and proposed action without recording someone’s private health information.

4. 4

   Clarify the first-aider role

   If your workplace has mental health first aiders, explain how to contact them and the boundaries of their support. A short awareness session is not a substitute for completing the training needed for a designated role.

5. 5

   Publish the follow-through

   Tell staff what you heard, which actions you will take and when you will report back. If you cannot make a requested change, explain why and what you can do instead.

Make activities comfortable to join

Keep awareness activities separate from requests to disclose a diagnosis or personal experience. People should be able to participate, observe or decline without having to explain why.

• Explain the activity in advance. Say what will happen, how long it will last and whether a quieter alternative is available.
• Give people different ways to take part. Written information, a brief online session and a private conversation may suit different needs.
• Keep personal stories voluntary. Agree with a speaker what can be shared, photographed or recorded. Do not assume consent extends to social media.
• Prepare your support information. A facilitator should know where to direct someone who wants further help.
• Avoid turning an event into an assessment. Do not ask colleagues to diagnose themselves or one another during a workplace activity.

Use the campaign’s current resources through the Mental Health Foundation’s official page, and check any conditions before reusing branding or materials.

What happens after the week?

Set a follow-up date before the week starts. Ask whether people know how to access support and whether promised workplace actions happened. Attendance figures and positive feedback can describe participation; they do not prove that an event improved mental health.

Use our stress risk assessment tool to organise workplace actions, owners and review dates. For a wider approach, see our guide to mental health first aid in the workplace.