This week (11 – 17 May) is Mental Health Awareness Week, marking an opportunity to pause, reflect, reconnect with the people around us. This year’s theme is “Action: for yourself, for someone else, for all of us”.

As aptly put by the Mental Health Foundation, “while awareness is vital, real change comes when we take action too”. This week, not only should we continue to raise the profile of mental health, but also we should look to create environments in which people can feel safe, ask for support, and take meaningful steps towards better mental wellbeing.

Action for yourself:

Sometimes it is all too easy to forget to prioritise our own wellbeing - whether it be the busy demands of work or homelife taking apriority. However, our action to ourself need not be big. One of the easiest ways we can help our own mental wellbeing is through maintaining a regular sleep routine. Though the temptation to scroll mindlessly through social media late in to the evenings may be great, simply putting our phones down and prioritising our sleep can have a significant impact on our mental wellness.

Action for someone else:

One of the simplest yet often overlooked actions we can all make this week is to just check in with those around us. Though a short message or a quick catch up at a coffee shop may seem small, these actions can make a significant difference. You do not need to be able to give perfect advice, but simply lending an ear to a friend or colleague helps build the foundation of a supportive environment in which they can feel heard.

Action for all of us:

Volunteering is an excellent way to not only help others and build that meaningful and supportive environment, but it is also a brilliant way to improve your own mental wellbeing. Volunteering can create a sense of purpose, connection, and achievement. Here at Feldon Dunsmore, we have chosen the Esther Project as our chosen charity for this year, with many of us getting involved with volunteering opportunities to help support the charity.

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