Action: for yourself, for someone else, for all of us!
This week (11 – 17 May) is Mental Health Awareness Week – a week-long campaign that takes place every year in May. The campaign highlights the importance of good mental health, challenges stigma and promotes practical actions people can take to support their own wellbeing.
Around one in five adults in the UK have a common mental health condition such as anxiety and depression. And this proportion is higher among young people aged 16-24.
Poor mental health is one of the biggest drivers of workplace absence with millions of workdays missed due to poor mental health. With poor mental health affecting so many of us, even those who aren’t directly affected themselves are likely to know, love, work alongside or care for someone who does.
Action is this year’s theme because, although awareness is vital, real change comes when we take action too.
Together, we’ve come a long way on mental health, but we can’t risk going backwards. There’s still much we can do to prevent people becoming unwell in the first place. Taking even small actions can give us feelings of hope and make us feel less powerless.
Get involved
Keep up with all the activity during Mental Health Awareness Week.
- Facebook: @mentalhealthfoundation
- Instagram: @mentalhealthfoundation
- LinkedIn: @mental-health-foundation
- Pinterest: @ukmentalhealth
Support and Resources
The Good Mental Health Project – York
The Good Mental Health Project actively promotes positive mental health and supports suicide prevention and early intervention across York.
Our team works closely with targeted community groups, businesses, workplaces and education settings across York to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and help people feel more confident in looking after their own mental health and supporting others.
Through collaboration, education and by providing practical tools, we aim to build stronger networks, encourage open conversations and give individuals the tools to take simple steps towards better mental wellbeing.
Connect
We explore connection not just with others, but also with yourself during a time when identity can feel blurred or lost. This includes peer connection, talking openly, asking for support, and reducing isolation in ways that feel safe and manageable.
Be Active
We approach activity gently, recognising physical recovery, fatigue, and changing bodies. The focus is on movement that supports mental wellbeing; such as stretching, walking, or simply changing position, rather than fitness goals or ‘getting back into shape’.
Take Notice
Parents are supported to slow things down and notice emotions, body signals, moments of calm, and early signs of overwhelm. This helps build self‑awareness, emotional literacy, and understanding of what feels supportive in the moment.
Keep Learning
Learning is explored through understanding mental health, the transition into parenthood, and developing coping strategies. We emphasise curiosity over getting things “right,” and learning from professionals, peers, and lived experience.
Give
Giving is reframed to include kindness; to others and to yourself. We explore boundaries, emotional labour, peer support, and why giving back to yourself is essential for wellbeing, not selfish.
The Good Mental Health Project launched a Perinatal Mental Health Campaign during Maternal Mental Health Week (4 – 10 May 2026) shaped around the Five Ways to Wellbeing. Posting throughout the week and beyond, the campaign explores how the Five Ways to Wellbeing can support mental health and wellbeing during pregnancy and early parenthood.
Everything is designed to be relatable, compassionate, and accessible; supporting parents to pause, reflect, and engage with wellbeing in ways that feel realistic and supportive.