Prioritising Mental Wellbeing at Work: Mental Health Awareness Week 2025

Mental Health Awareness Week, taking place from 12^th – 18^th May 2025, is a crucial time for organisations to focus on employee wellbeing, reduce stigma surrounding mental health challenges, and promote a supportive workplace culture. With mental health challenges affecting millions worldwide, an issue exacerbated since Covid-19, businesses have a responsibility to create environments where employees feel safe, valued, and empowered to seek support.

Why Mental Health Awareness Matters in the Workplace

Poor mental health significantly impacts productivity, absenteeism, and overall job satisfaction. A study published on ResearchGate (2024), titled ‘The Role of Mental Health on Workplace Productivity: A Critical Review of the Literature’, provides a comprehensive analysis of how mental health issues, particularly stress, anxiety, depression, and burnout contribute to lost workdays and reduced workplace performance. The researchers reviewed 38 relevant studies and found clear evidence that poor mental health leads to both absenteeism and presenteeism (reduced productivity while at work).

However, when organisations prioritise mental wellbeing, employees experience increased engagement, higher morale, and improved performance. The study also highlighted that while most research focuses on common mental disorders, there is a need for broader exploration into other mental health challenges affecting workplace productivity.

Taking a proactive approach benefits both employees and the organisation, nurturing a healthier and more supportive work environment.

How Employers Can Support Mental Health Awareness Week

To create a workplace that truly supports mental health, here are six meaningful steps organisations can take:

1. Host mental health workshops and talks

Invite mental health professionals or advocates to share strategies on managing stress, resilience, and self-care.

2. Encourage open conversations

Adopt a culture where employees feel comfortable discussing mental health, without fear of judgment.

3. Provide information on mental health resources

Ensure employees are aware of available Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs), helplines, and internal wellbeing support. Additionally, share external resources such as Mind, the UK’s leading mental health charity offering support and a helpline, as well as apps like Headspace that promote mindfulness and mental wellbeing.

4. Review workplace policies

Evaluate existing policies to ensure they include clear pathways for accessing support for employees experiencing mental health challenges.

5. Train managers on mental health awareness

Equip leaders with the knowledge and tools to identify signs of distress and provide appropriate support.

6. Promote work-life balance

Encourage employees to take regular breaks, use their annual leave, and set healthy boundaries around working hours. Support the right to disconnect, ensuring employees feel empowered to switch off outside of work hours. Furthermore, with the government’s ongoing plans to introduce legislation around this, it’s important to encourage a culture that respects personal time and promotes overall wellbeing.

Conclusion:

Mental Health Awareness Week is an important annual reminder, but supporting employee wellbeing should be a continuous effort. By embedding mental health initiatives into everyday workplace culture, organisations can create healthier, happier, and more productive teams where mental health is prioritised, not just during awareness week, but all year round.

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