Mental Health Awareness Week is taking place between 11th and 17th May, and this year’s theme is ‘Action’.
Mental Health Awareness Week is organised by the Mental Health Foundation and this year they want to highlight what taking action for mental health could look like.
Why action?
This Mental Health Awareness Week the Mental Health Foundation is asking people to join them in ‘taking action’ to support good mental health. Even small actions can help us feel hopeful and less powerless. And while our individual actions matter, when we come together, we are even more powerful.
These actions could be for yourself, for someone else, or for all of us.
Why it mattes
Mental Health Awareness Week is a good time to reflect on our own mental health and overall wellbeing – are we taking on too much, saying yes to something that doesn’t sit right, or avoiding saying something in case we cause a reaction?
We believe it’s a great opportunity to go from ‘knowing about’ to being proactive – thinking and reflecting on it, having conversations, sharing, doing research. It’s an opportunity to actively think about, try out, and do the things that support our mental health.
Mental Health Awareness Week is a good time to reflect on why we do what we do, and think about what feelings that brings up in us, and what we might be able to do to lighten the load.
What can we do to take action?
There is a load of different ways we can take action of our own mental health, and also help others also take action over theirs.
The team at No5 have shared just a few of their ideas here.
For yourself
Taking action for yourself can start of small.
Starting off with something small means you have a place to start that you can build from there.
This Mental Health Awareness Week, find your one small thing that could be a building block for you to grow from.
There are many things you could do to start off with to help start off with looking after your own menta health – it could be as simple as opening a window to let the fresh air in and the stale air out, breathing deeply.
It could be taking an hour out for your day to do something for yourself whether it be taking the hour to read a book you been wanting to read, taking a walk, or finishing a craft you been working on.
You can find more ideas and inspiration about how to take action for your own mental health with self-care here
For someone else
Initiating the first point of contact by reaching out to your friend shows that you’re willing to reach out and be there for them, especially if you know they are struggling. It shows that you want to maintain your relationship and support them.
Taking action for someone else could be simply asking them if they want to go for a walk or a run with you, or sending them a message, picking up the phone to chat to them, or jumping on a game together.
For all of us
Taking action for all of us could be supporting a mental health cause, and doing some fundraising to support organisations helping people struggling with their mental health, or getting involved in social action in your local community.
You could take on a challenge such as a run or bike ride, and raise money to support an organisation like No5. Do a bake sale at school or at work, or get involved in something going on in your community that brings people together.
Physical activity and activities like baking, and by making them in to a fundraiser for a local organisation, you will be taking action for us all too!
If you’re looking for some inspiration, take a look at some fundraising ideas here
Another good way to take action for your own mental health, and the mental health of us all, is to get involved in the community by taking part in activities and social action.
Our Young Voices social action group is a great way to get involved in the community, campaign about issues that matter to you, and have your voice heard which also helps promote good mental health.
