Mental Health Awareness Month: sharing stories, support and action across our communities

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and from Monday 11 May to Sunday 17 May 2026, organisations and communities across the UK will also mark Mental Health Awareness Week.

Throughout the month, we will be sharing a series of blogs focused on mental health, wellbeing, local support and the brilliant work happening across Hull, East Riding and beyond.

We want to use this month to shine a light on the charities, community groups, volunteers, services, businesses, schools and local people who are taking action to support mental health. Whether it is providing a listening ear, running peer support groups, fundraising, offering wellbeing activities, hosting events, sharing lived experience, or simply creating safe spaces for people to talk — your work matters.

Mental health affects us all. Talking about it openly helps reduce stigma, encourages people to seek support, and reminds those who may be struggling that they are not alone. Awareness months like this give us an important opportunity to start conversations, share trusted information and celebrate the organisations doing vital work on the ground.

We would love to hear from anyone who is doing something to support Mental Health Awareness Month.

• Are you holding an event?
• Are you fundraising for a mental health charity?
• Are you running a wellbeing activity, workshop or support session?
• Are you wearing green for Mental Health Awareness Week?
• Are you sharing resources, stories or lived experience to help others?

Please get in touch and tell us what you are doing so we can help share your support far and wide. You can email us directly at community@heysmilefoundation.org

Over the coming weeks, we will be posting blogs, signposting to helpful resources, highlighting local organisations, and celebrating the many ways people are taking action for better mental health and wellbeing.

Together, we can raise awareness, encourage conversations and help more people know where to turn when they need support.