Mental Health Awareness Week 2026 — taking action, starting conversations

Mental Health Awareness Week takes place from Monday 11 May to Sunday 17 May 2026

This year’s theme, led by the Mental Health Foundation, is Action — a reminder that while awareness matters, real change happens when we turn care, compassion and understanding into something practical.

Across Hull and East Riding, charities, community groups, volunteers, NHS services and grassroots organisations are doing absolutely brilliant work every day. They are offering safe spaces, counselling, peer support, crisis help, youth work, bereavement support, advocacy, friendship, creative activity, practical advice and hope. Throughout May, we will be sharing a series of mental health and wellbeing stories to celebrate this work and shine a light on the people and organisations making a real difference on the ground.

Mental health affects every part of our lives: how we think, feel, work, parent, study, care, connect and cope. Yet many people still find it difficult to say, “I’m struggling.” That can be because of stigma, shame, fear of being judged, or simply not knowing where to turn.

That is why talking about mental health is so important.

A conversation will not solve everything, but it can be the first step towards support. When we talk openly, we remind people that they are not alone. We make it easier for someone to ask for help earlier, before things reach crisis point. We also help challenge the idea that mental health problems are something to hide.

Mental health is not just an individual issue. It is shaped by our homes, relationships, workplaces, finances, communities, access to services, loneliness, discrimination, trauma and physical health. That means action can happen at every level. We can check in on a friend. We can make our organisations safer and kinder places to work. We can support local charities. We can listen without rushing to fix. We can learn where to signpost someone when they need more help.

This Mental Health Awareness Week, we are encouraging people across Hull and East Riding to take action in whatever way they can:

• Talk to someone you trust if you are struggling. 
• Ask twice if someone says they are “fine” but you feel something is wrong. 
• Share trusted support services. 
• Make time for rest, movement, connection and creativity. 
• Support local organisations doing vital work. 

And most importantly, remember that needing help is not a weakness — it is part of being human.