Mental Health Awareness Week – 12th -18th May 2025 on the Theme Of ‘Community’
Being part of a safe, positive community is vital to our mental health and wellbeing. We thrive when we have strong connections with other people and supportive communities remind us, we are not alone. In line with this year’s theme, several colleagues from the CWU mental Health First Aiders network have shared a selection of ‘1-minute’ reads under the title of ‘My Mental Health and me’. These are available via the link below to try and help assist people wanting to access support and to also to try and break down stigma. These ‘1-minute’ reads are a ‘community’ share and suitable for workplace notice boards and a reminder that one person’s story could become someone’s hope.
Stigma and Workplace Culture
Findings from a recent MHFA England mental health statistics workplace report
Key workplace mental health statistics for 2024 · MHFA England
Identified that-
35% of employees said they had experienced discrimination or stigma in the workplace due to poor mental health.
47% of employees believe that an open dialogue about mental health would significantly improve their wellbeing at work.
45% feel uncomfortable discussing mental health concerns with their manager, fearing negative repercussions.
Stigma therefore remains a significant challenge and support networks remain vital in overcoming the many mental health challenges caused by stigma.
CWU Mental Health First Aiders
The CWU have Trained over 500 accredited Mental Health First Aiders since 2019 and Signposting CWU members to approved support services does form part of CWU MHFAider training. An A-Z list of endorsed organisations that have supported CWU colleagues in various aspects of their Mental Health & wellbeing needs can be viewed by clicking on the link below. The organisations listed are only those that have been endorsed by CWU service users, the A-Z list is non-exhaustive and is a ‘Live’ signposting webpage that is updated twice yearly, we encourage anyone who has received beneficial Mental Health support form an organisation to make us aware, just so that we can add to our endorsed list of support services available.
The organisations listed can be local or national.
CWU Mental Health – Signpost Support Services
Challenging employers to really become more “disability confident” when it comes to Mental Health Disability remains very high on our CWU agenda. Through feedback from our Mental Health First Aiders network, we have established that around 90% of mental health reasonable adjustment agreements can often be implemented cost free. This is a percentage measurement against over 250 mental health disability risk assessments completed in the last 5 years with CWU support. Employers of course fall under a positive duty under the 2010 Equality Act, to make reasonable adjustments in the workplace to alleviate or remove any disadvantage suffered by a disabled worker when compared against a non-disabled worker. This includes anyone suffering from a long-term mental health disability or impairment.
Promoting the Recovery model
What we know is that when the right type of support is given-
- People can & do recover from poor mental health
- Each person’s recovery is different.
- Recovery is more about overcoming the challenges of poor mental health rather than achieving an absence of symptoms.
Being part of a safe, positive community can also prove vital to help with the recovery and maintenance of our own mental health and wellbeing.
Talking about mental health at work
A Key message for mental Health Awareness Week 2025 –
Anyone can be a Mental Health Advocate.
The Samaritans have provided some tips for talking to people struggling with their mental health at work: The SHUSH technique, developed by the Samaritans, is designed to help people become better listeners. Listening, when done actively and attentively, can provide a lifeline for someone who feels unheard or alone.
- Show you care
Give the person your full attention by setting aside distractions. Nonverbal cues like eye contact and an open posture convey that you’re fully present. - Have patience
Allow the conversation to unfold naturally. Silence is okay—it can give someone the time and space to articulate their thoughts and feelings. - Use open questions
Encourage the person to share more by asking questions like, “How are you feeling about that?” or “What’s been on your mind lately?” - Say it back
Reflect and paraphrase what they’ve said to show understanding. For example, “It sounds like you’ve been feeling really overwhelmed lately.” - Hold back on advice
Focus on listening without immediately trying to fix the problem. Sometimes, simply feeling heard is enough to make a difference.
Why Listening Matters
Research consistently highlights the importance of human connection in promoting mental health and wellbeing. By practicing active listening, you’re creating a safe and supportive space where someone feels valued and understood.
Workplace resources for Mental Health Awareness week 2025
Mental Health Awareness Week 2025 resources | Mates in Mind
Resources for Mental Health Awareness Week 2025 | Mental Health Foundation
Webinars can be a very useful source of information during Mental Health Awareness Week, several selected free online webinars are available via the links shown below.
MRSpride Webinar: Mental Health Awareness Week – 12 May 2025 | Events
