May 2025 - Mental Health Awareness Week
It’s Time to Make Space for Our Minds
Every May, Mental Health Awareness Week gives us an importantreminder: our mental health matters just as much as our physical health.In fact, the two are deeply connected.
Whether it’s the anxiety we try to mask during a busy workday, the low moods we can’t quite shake, or the quiet burnout that creeps up without warning, these experiences are more common than you might think. And yet, many people still find it hard to talk openly about how they’re feeling. Let’s change that.
Why Mental Health Awareness Week Matters
It’s easy to get caught up in day-to-day life, juggling responsibilities, deadlines, and expectations. But mental health isn’t something that can be put on the back burner, it’s something we live with every day.
This week is about:
Raising awareness of mental health challenges
Breaking the stigma around mental illness and emotional struggles and in particular men’s mental health. Talking about it does not make you weak.
Encouraging conversations that are honest, kind, and free from judgment.
Promoting support—whether personal, professional, or clinical.
The Silent Struggles
Not all struggles are visible. Many people look fine on the outside but are battling exhaustion, anxiety, grief, loneliness, or low self-worth beneath the surface.
In my work as both a counsellor and an HR professional, I often support people who say:
“I don’t know why I feel like this.”
“I just keep going, I have to.”
“I feel guilty for struggling when others have it worse.”
Let’s be clear: your mental health deserves attention, no matter what your circumstances are. You don’t need to justify it, compare it, or wait until you’re in crisis.
Small Steps, Big Shifts
Looking after our mental health doesn’t need to mean big changes overnight. Often, it starts with small, consistent acts of self-care and self-awareness:
Check in with yourself regularly – How am I really feeling? What do I need today?
Talk to someone – A friend, partner, colleague, therapist or coach. You don’t have to face things alone.
Set boundaries – It’s okay to say no, take a break, or step back when you need to.
Move your body – Walk, stretch, dance, or get some fresh air. It all helps shift stuck energy.
Limit comparison – Social media rarely shows the full picture.
You are enough as you are.
Prioritise rest – Not just sleep, but real downtime where you’re not ‘on’.
For Leaders and Employers
Mental health awareness isn’t just an individual responsibility, it’s a cultural one. As leaders, we have a duty to create workplaces where:
People feel safe to speak up.
Mental health support is visible and accessible.
Workload is balanced with wellbeing.
Flexible and inclusive practices are standard.
Mental health is seen not as a weakness, but a part of being human.
Supporting staff wellbeing doesn’t just improve retention and performance, it builds trust and belonging. And that’s what truly makes a workplace thrive.
Let’s normalise the conversation. Let’s support each other. And most importantly, let’s take care of our mental health, not just during Mental Health Awareness Week, but all year round.
How I Can Help
At Renewed Perspective, I offer individual and couples counselling, as well as confidence coaching and HR-informed support for professionals and organisations navigating change, stress, or emotional overwhelm.
If you or someone you know is feeling overwhelmed, don’t wait for a crisis. Support is available. As a BACP registered therapist, couples therapist and coach, I offer confidential sessions for individuals and couples navigating stress, transitions, or burnout.