Mental Health Awareness Week – May 18 – May 24

Every year, the Mental Health Foundation organises Mental Health Awareness Week, encouraging people to open up about mental health and find ways to improve the mental wellbeing of everyone. Mental Health Awareness Week 2020 is all about kindness, an important theme at a time when people are facing the outcomes of the coronavirus pandemic. 

Why kindness?

Kindness brings hope in dark times and over the past months, we have all seen its power bring people together despite the isolation caused by the pandemic. Doing something good for others is one of the best ways to help your own wellbeing and this can be as simple as asking your neighbours how they are doing, writing a letter to friends you know are struggling or fundraising for a cause you care about. 

The theme of kindness delves deeper than encouraging people to be kind to others. It is a reminder that true kindness starts with being kind to yourself first. The past months have been difficult for each person in different ways. No matter the pressures you face in your daily life Mental Health Awareness Week is a time to actively remind yourself that you are enough. Receiving as well as giving kindness is not easy and requires courage but it is also a risk worth taking. 

Join in on Mental Health Awareness Week

According to their campaign website, the Mental Health Foundation (kindly) asks everyone to: 

• Reflect on an act of kindness. Share your stories and pictures (with permission) of kindness during the week using #KindnessMatters and #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek
• Use our resources in your family, school, workplace and community to join with thousands in practising acts of kindness to yourself and others during the week 
• Share your ideas on how you think we could build a kinder society that would support our mental health using #KindnessMatters and #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek

Have a look here for more information about events that are happening during the week. Make sure to also sign up for KindLink’s weekly webinar on Wednesday, May 20, in which we will be discussing mental health post-crisis: impact on businesses, society, and individuals. 

Download our Philanthropy Calendar and plan your year around doing (and being!) good.