Mental Health Awareness Week | May 12–18, 2025
Each year, Mental Health Awareness Week gives us a moment to pause, reflect, and start the conversations that matter most. This year’s theme is Community—because support systems, big or small, make a world of difference.
Why Mental Health Awareness Week Matters
We live in a hyperconnected world—and yet loneliness and isolation are at all-time highs.
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1 in 4 adults in England experience a mental health problem each year;
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1 in 6 report experiencing common mental health issues weekly;
- 19.7% people in the UK aged 16+ showed symptoms of anxiety or depression (Mind).
Whether it’s anxiety, depression, burnout, or loneliness—mental health challenges are more common than most people realize.
But here’s the good news: community protects mental health.
The Science of Connection: Why Community Heals
Research consistently shows that strong social connections improve both mental and physical health. Here's what the data tells us:
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People with stronger social relationships have a 50% increased likelihood of survival, comparable to quitting smoking or exceeding obesity risk levels (Holt-Lunstad et al., 2010)
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A sense of belonging in a community is associated with lower rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide
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According to the Mental Health Foundation, community and connection are "protective factors" that build resilience and prevent illness.
Simply put: community isn’t just nice to have—it’s essential.
How to Build and Strengthen Community This Week
☕ 1. Host a “Tea & Talk”
Start small. Invite a friend, neighbour, or colleague for a conversation over a cup of tea. You can even raise funds for Mental Health Foundation. If you don't know what to start with - they do have nifty guides, step-by-step instructions and packs that will help you make it a success.
🚶 2. Join a Mental Health Walk
Mental Health Mates organizes peer-led walks where people talk—or walk in silence—together. It’s a space where it’s okay to not be okay. You can also host a walk - setting up a walk in your local community will help establish a nationwide network of peer-to-peer support for everyone, everywhere.
💻 3. Share Support Resources
Help someone access the support they need. These organizations offer free, trusted help:
Sometimes, the best way to support someone is simply by being there.
Whether it’s a text message, a quiet walk, a shared tea, or simply listening—every small act of care ripples outwards. Community begins with connection. And connection begins with you.
Let’s make this Mental Health Awareness Week count. Share this blog. Check in with someone. Or just show up. Because you never know the difference it might make.