Mental Health Awareness Week
Mental Health Awareness Week is a vital time to put a spotlight on the importance of mental health and well-being. Just like physical health, mental health plays a massive part in how we think, feel and interact with the world around us. Looking after our mental health is crucial for nagivating life's challenges, building relationships and maintaining overall happiness and satisfaction. Mental Health Awareness Week is an opportunity to break the stigma, spark conversations and encourage people who may be struggling to seek support. By raising awareness, we remind ourselves and people around us that mental health matters every single day, not just during Mental Health Awareness Week. Taking care of mental health is something we can all do together.
What Is Mental Health Awareness Week?
Mental Health Awareness Week is an annual campaign hosted by the Mental Health Foundation and takes place each May. It's a dedicated time of year to open up conversations about mental health, raise awareness and encourage kindness, understanding and support for those who need it. It's about breaking the negative idea that still surrounds mental health and reminding everyone that it is completely okay not to be okay, and no one has to go through it alone.
For us as a company, Mental Health Awareness Week holds a special place. Our creativity, joy and passion for what we do come from a place of positivity and connection. The ideas we dream up, the products we create, and the relationships we build with each other and customers are all fuelled by a healthy mindset. We know how powerful it is to nurture not just our work, but the people behind it.
Looking after our mental state is essential. It keeps our ideas flowing, our energy alive and our hearts open. That's why Mental Health Awareness Week means so much to us at Rockett St George. It's a beautiful reminder to check in with ourselves, lift each other up and continue creating from a place of kindness, love and happiness.
Why It's So Important To Look After Your Mental Health | Mental Health Awareness Week
Your mental health touches every single part of your life. Your thoughts, your emotions, your energy, your relationships, your ability to cope with stress, to feel joy, to be creative, and to get through the day. All of this starts with your mental well-being. When we neglect it, everything feels heavier and a little less bright. However, when we care for our minds with the same love and attention we give our bodies, life flows differently.
Looking after your mental health is far from selfish - it's survival, self-respect, and it's a way to show up for yourself and the people you love. It means setting boundaries, giving yourself time on tougher days, finding what makes you feel alive and remembering that you don't have to do it all to be it all. You are worthy of rest. You are allowed to ask for help. We all deserve to feel good, and not just sometimes, but everyday. It is so important to remember that a healthy mind isn't just about surviving, it's about truly living.
5 Common Signs That Someone Is Struggling | Mental Health Awareness Week
As Mental Health Awareness Week comes around, it's a good reminder to check in on the people around us. Spotting when someone is having a hard time isn't always obvious, but here are 5 common signs that might suggest a friend or colleague might be strugging.
1. Withdrawal
If someone you know is suddenly quiter, skipping meetings or avoiding conversations they would usually be involved in, it could be a sign. Keep an eye on those subtle shifts during all days of the year, not just Mental Health Awareness Week.
2. Overworking & Worrying About Performance
A sudden obsession with work performance or anxiety surrounding productivity might mean someone is not okay. You may notice them starting early, staying late or appearing permanently stressed. It's worth gently checking in. During Mental Health Awareness Week and every other week, these conversations are important.
3. Changes In Appearance
Often, when people are going through something hard, personal care can take a backseat. If someone's appearance seems consistently a little run down, it might be more than just a busy week. Another reason Mental Health Awareness Week is such a vital conversation starter.
4. Avoiding Social Situations
If a friend who is normally up for social events such as birthdays or after-work drinks suddenly starts to avoid social invites, it's worth noting. Changes in social habits can be a subtle sign that someone isn't in a great headspace - something to be mindful of this Mental Health Awareness Week.
5. Overdoing It On Nights Out
On the flip side, leaning too hard into big nights out or regular heavy drinking can also be a coping mechanism for someone who is going through something hard. If someone you know is constantly pushing the limits, it might be their way of managing their mental state. Mental Health Awareness Week is here to remind you that checking in on people who are showing signs of unhealthy coping mechanisms is crucial.
Top Tips For Looking After Your Mental Heath | Mental Health Awareness Week
With Mental Health Awareness Week in swing, it's a good time to pause and think about how we are really doing. Looking after your mental health doesn't mean huge, life-changing gestures. In fact, more often than not, it's the small, everyday things that quietly make the biggest difference. Here are a few gentle ideas you can show yourself some love this Mental Health Awareness Week, and beyond.
1. Connect With Others
One of the most powerful things you can do for your mental state is surround yourself with people who lift you up. During Mental Health Awareness Week, it's the perfect reminder to check in with the people who make you feel seen, heard and supported. Positive, strong connections remind us that we are not alone, even on the bad days.
2. Be active
When you're in the midst of a rough patch, being told what to do is often the last thing people want to hear. However, it is crucial to remind everyone that moving your body isn't just about fitness - it's about clearing your mind. Whether that's by going on a long walk, a short walk, a kitchen disco, or a stretch, Mental Health Awareness Week is a really good time to notice how small bursts of movement can shift your energy and make you feel more like you.
3. Give Back
Kindness is a two-way street. Checking in on someone else during Mental Health Awareness Week not only supports them but can also help you feel a sense of purpose and connection. Mental Health Awareness Week can remind us that we all have a part to play in making life feel a little lighter for each other.
4. Healthy Habits
Your body and mind work as a team, and when you're rested and nourished, everything can feel easier. Mental Health Awareness Week is a nice excuse to check in on your habits - are you getting enough sleep? Eating food that makes you feel good? Tiny tweaks to your routine can make a big difference to how you cope with stress and stay positive.
5. Set Realistic Goals
Life can feel overwhelming when we put too much pressure on ourselves, and often, the more pressure we put on ourselves, the less likely we are to make a change. Mental Health Awareness Week reminds us that it's completely okay to slow down, take a breath and tackle things one step at a time. Setting achievable goals, no matter how big or small, can build your confidence and keep things from getting overwhelming.
How Rockett St George Supports Staff Wellbeing | Mental Health Awareness Week
At Rockett St George, looking after each other isn't just something we say, it's something we live every day, and especially during Mental Health Awareness Week. Whilst Mental Health Awareness Week is great, we're a team that truly cares, checks in, and lifts each other up all the time, and we know how crucial it is to have real, practical support in the workplace, too. Mental health really matters all year round, but Mental Health Awareness Week is a beautiful reminder to shine a light on the things we do to keep our team happy and supported.
Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
One way we support our wonderful team is through our Employee Assistance Programme - a completely free and confidential service available to every member of staff. Whether its for financial advice, legal guidance, or a safe space to talk things through, the EAP is always there. It also offers free counselling sessions, making sure that during Mental Health Awareness week, and every other week, no one has to struggle alone.
https://www.healthassured.org/
Mental Health First Aid Training (MHFA)
We're taking things a step further this June as a part of our ongoing commitment to mental health, and inspired by the message of Mental Health Awareness Week. Our Senior Managers will be completing Mental Health First Aid training, giving them the knowledge and confidence to support anyone facing struggles or a mental health crisis at work. It's about creating a workplace where it's safe to speak up, be heard, and be supported.
https://mhfaengland.org/individuals/adult/mental-health-first-aid/
A Little Extra Love
Because well-being isn't just for Mental Health Awareness Week - its something we value every single day. Through our EAP, our team can also access fitness trackers, healthy recipes, and tips to stay active and feel good. In the office, we make sure there is fresh fruit, calming herbal teas, and free flu jabs during winter, because it's often the little things that make the big difference.
At Rockett St George, we believe a happy, healthy mind fuels creativity, joy, and connection - the heart of everything we do. Mental Health Awareness Week is a beautiful reminder to keep checking in, continue supporting each other, and keep creating a space where everyone feels good, inside and out.