How to get ready for Mental Health Awareness week

What is mental health awareness week?

Mental health awareness week 2023 runs from the 15th to the 21st of May. This project is designed to help us all have better and more open conversations about mental health. It aims to raise awareness and reduce the stigma around mental health issues.

It also encourages us to prevent mental health issues rather than simply treating them when they appear. These kinds of proactive efforts to protect mental health are exactly what we’re working on at Paws in Work.

This year’s mental health awareness week theme is anxiety. Anxiety is one of the most common mental health issues, so this is the perfect opportunity to make real progress in preventing it.

Prepare for mental health awareness week (and beyond)

Mental health awareness week will only be as successful as we make it. The more we do to prepare for the event, the more effective our efforts will be. Here are some of the ways that you can get the most out of the week.

Mental health training

Mental health training gives your teams the skills and confidence they need to look after their own wellbeing, and that of their colleagues. At Paws in Work, we have masterclasses at various levels to support your staff — and empower them to support themselves.

If masterclasses don’t feel like the best solution for your team, try an expert talk on a relevant topic? At Paws in Work, we host expert talks on various mental health topics. Given the focus of this year’s mental health awareness week, why not educate your staff on anxiety?

Lunch and learns

Finding time for mental health training can be tricky, especially when workloads are high. To make sure you make time for mental health, try creating a “Lunch and Learn” event. Provide your staff with a great lunch and offer advice and support for great mental health at the same time.

Lunch and Learn topics don’t have to be complicated. Anything that improves employee wellbeing is a valid topic. While a one-off event is helpful, regular Lunch and Learn days are better. Use mental health awareness week to start a great Lunch and Learn routine.

Employee wellbeing days

Having designated “wellbeing days” in addition to standard annual leave allowances is another fantastic way to improve your employees' mental health and wellbeing.

Offering employees a small number of days they can take off to avoid burnout actually boosts productivity and helps you build a happier workforce. That’s certainly been our experience at Paws in Work. Knowing that we have specific wellbeing days each quarter has made a huge difference in our offices.

Employee wellness days go beyond mental health awareness week, but it’s a great opportunity to announce the policy. Offering paid time off shows real commitment to improving mental health within your organisation.

Create space and time to decompress

Giving employees a little time during the day to take breaks and decompress is essential because it can improve their productivity and wellbeing. Designate a space in the office where your staff can relax and recharge. Make this a calming space and encourage employees to use it regularly.

Join Paws in Work for Mental Health Awareness Week events

One of the best things about mental health awareness week is just how many different people are stepping up and creating valuable resources for you and your staff. Why not take advantage of some of the great events on offer?

At Paws in Work, we are working hard to create some incredible webinars exclusively for our clients exploring anxiety in the workplace. We are also creating content on our social channels, so make sure you stay tuned and follow us over on Instagram and Linkedin.