It’s Mental Health Awareness Week 2025!
This week 12th-18th May) marks Mental Health Awareness Week 2025 - a vital opportunity to shine a light on mental health, challenge stigma, and encourage open conversations about wellbeing in the workplace. Organised by the Mental Health Foundation, this annual campaign aims to raise awareness of mental health issues and inspire action towards better mental health for all.
The Purpose of the Week
This year's theme is “Community”, recognising how feeling connected to others and having a sense of belonging can significantly impact our mental health. Whether it's through friendships, local groups, or support at work, strong communities help people feel valued and supported - something especially important in today's fast-paced, sometimes isolating world.
Why This Matters for Schools
As employers, schools play a key role in fostering a sense of community among staff. When employees feel part of a supportive and inclusive team, they are more likely to thrive both personally and professionally. Mental Health Awareness Week offers a timely opportunity to reflect on how your school builds community and supports staff wellbeing.
Employers’ Legal Obligations
As an employer your school has a legal duty of care under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 to safeguard the mental and physical health of its employees. Additionally, the Equality Act 2010 protects individuals with mental health conditions that meet the legal definition of a disability. You must not discriminate and may be required to make reasonable adjustments to support these employees.
How Your School Can Get Involved
There are many ways schools can take part in Mental Health Awareness Week and promote a sense of community in the workplace. For example:
- Hosting awareness events or workshops on topics such as stress, anxiety, or building resilience.
- Running team-building activities that promote connection and inclusion.
- Encourage storytelling or experience-sharing from staff who feel comfortable to talk about mental health and the role of community in their wellbeing.
- Organise a community-focused project, such as volunteering or charity initiative.
- Sharing resources from reputable sources like the Mental Health Foundation or Mind and Mentally Healthy Schools.
- Creating safe spaces for staff to connect, such as peer support groups.
- Reviewing internal policies and ensuring managers understand how to use them to support staff wellbeing.
Supporting Staff Mental Health All Year Round
Beyond this week, schools should take proactive steps to support staff mental health year-round. This includes:
- Creating a supportive culture, where mental health is treated as seriously as physical health and fostering a culture of openness, trust, and respect.
- Training managers to spot signs of mental distress and respond appropriately.
- Providing access to support, such as Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs), counselling, or occupational health services.
- Promoting any internal policies that support wellbeing, such as our “School Staff Wellbeing Policy” available on the HR Resources Hub.
- Offering flexible working options where feasible to help staff manage stress and work-life balance.
- Regularly reviewing wellbeing practices, with input from staff, either informally or using our Health and Wellbeing survey.
Why It Matters
Looking after employees' mental health is not only a moral and legal responsibility - it also leads to real benefits for schools such as better engagement, lower absence rates, and greater productivity which can lead to improved outcomes for pupils. When staff feel connected and supported, they are more resilient, motivated, and committed to their work.
Mental Health Awareness Week 2025 is a chance to reflect on how your school can build and sustain a strong sense of community - and to take meaningful steps toward a culture where mental health is respected, protected, and prioritised.
How can we help you?
As always, we're here to support you with any individual staff matters that may arise in relation to mental health and wellbeing or providing or reviewing any relevant policies on such matters. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you need advice or assistance.
Our HR Resources Hub contains a range of guidance and tools to help you actively manage staff wellbeing in your school.
Learn more with us!
Please join us on one of our training sessions to learn more about Wellbeing in the Workplace on Thursday 10th July 2025 9:30am at 12:30pm.
The course is intended to provide an overview of employee wellbeing, the importance of this, the obligations on the employer to support wellbeing and how to utilise and make the most of any welfare meeting if concerns regarding staff wellbeing do arise. At the end of the course it is intended that participants will:
- Understand what we mean by employee wellbeing;
- Understand when wellbeing becomes an employment matter;
- Have an awareness of the benefits of understanding staff welfare;
- Understand the responsibilities of the employer and employee in relation to wellbeing;
- Understand the legal obligations of an employer in relation to wellbeing;
- Understand how to address staff wellbeing concerns and get the best from a welfare meeting;
- Have an awareness of the skills to utilise at such a meeting; and
- Understand the actions that could arise from a welfare meeting.
For more information and to book click HERE.
