Mental Health Awareness Week: 11-17 May 2026
Make mental health part of everyday work.
Mental Health Awareness Week (11–17 May) is a great reminder that small, practical actions can make a big difference – for your team, your workplace and your business.
Why mental health at work matters
Work-related stress, depression, and anxiety are major causes of ill health across all sectors. They don’t just affect your team—they impact your business too, through:
- Increased sickness absence
- Lower productivity
- Higher staff turnover
Taking early action can prevent stress from escalating, protect your team’s wellbeing, and strengthen long-term business performance.
Prevent stress with the 5Rs
HSE’s Working Minds campaign offers tools, guidance, and training to help employers prevent stress and support conversations about mental health.
The campaign promotes a 5Rs approach. focusing on the six main causes of work-related stress:
- Recognise – Spot early signs, like changes in behaviour, productivity, or engagement.
- Reach Out – Start simple conversations with your team.
- Respond – Adjust workloads, offer flexibility, or provide extra support.
- Reflect – Review what works well and what could improve.
- Make it Routine – Embed mental health into everyday business practices.
Check out our new Working Minds video to see how small actions – like brief check-ins or clearer communication – can boost wellbeing and team performance.
Quick actions for employers
Even small steps can make a big difference. This Mental Health Awareness Week, try one or more of the following:
- Ask how your team are finding their workload
- Discuss upcoming challenges and what support is available
- Acknowledge achievements as well as difficulties
- Complete a stress risk assessment using HSE templates
- Encourage managers to access free training and resources
Free resources to help you
Working Minds provides tools, templates, and online learning – all free – to help you make mental health part of everyday work.
Protecting mental health is good for your people – and good for your business. Take a practical step this week.
Join the Conversation
Stay connected and share the Working Minds message:
Other helpful resources
see more about understanding the impact of stress at work
find out how you can support the Working Minds campaign