Sometimes, the smallest actions make the biggest difference.
A conversation. A check-in. A listening ear. A moment of understanding.
Mental Health Awareness Week is a good reminder of that. But at Orchard Rock Training, we believe mental health awareness should be more than a box-ticking exercise. It’s about creating environments where people feel supported, valued and understood, every week of the year.
What is Mental Health Awareness Week?
Mental Health Awareness Week is run by the Mental Health Foundation, which has been organising it for 25 years. In 2026 it took place from 11 to 17 May.
This year’s theme was Action. The Foundation chose it because, while awareness is vital, real change comes when we take action too. It asked people to act for themselves, for someone else and for all of us.
That fits care work well. Care teams spend their days looking after other people’s wellbeing. It’s easy for their own to slip down the list.
It’s okay to not be okay
People often stay quiet about how they’re feeling. They worry about being judged, letting colleagues down or being seen as not coping.
Open conversations help to challenge that stigma. When a team talks about mental health as normally as physical health, people are more likely to ask for help early, and to know they don’t have to face things alone.
Small actions for yourself
- Notice how you’re feeling. Tiredness, irritability or dreading your shift can be early signs you need support.
- Take your breaks. Even a few minutes away from the floor helps you reset.
- Talk to someone you trust, whether that’s a colleague, your manager, a friend or your GP.
- Keep up the things that help you, such as time outdoors, sleep, movement and time with people you care about.
Small actions for someone else
- Check in properly. Ask “how are you really doing?” and give people time to answer.
- Listen without trying to fix. Often, being heard is what helps most.
- Notice changes in a colleague or someone you support, like withdrawing, low mood or not being themselves.
- Know where to point people, including your organisation’s support, their GP and helplines.
Our story about responding to distress in care shows how much a calm, unhurried presence can do.
Actions for the whole team
Individual actions matter, but they’re only part of the story. Leaders and managers shape whether a service feels like a safe place to speak up:
- make wellbeing a regular part of supervisions and team meetings, not a once-a-year topic
- watch for pressure points such as short-staffing, difficult shifts and incidents, and offer a debrief afterwards
- make sure everyone knows what support is available and how to access it
- train staff so they feel confident recognising mental health problems and responding well
If someone needs help now
If someone is struggling, encourage them to speak to their GP. Samaritans are available day or night, free from any phone, on 116 123. If someone’s life is at immediate risk, call 999.
How training helps
Awareness is the starting point. Training gives teams the confidence to act. Courses that help include:
- Mental Health Awareness (half day): what mental health is, why people don’t talk about it, and the different types of mental health conditions
- Mental Health First Aid (two days): recognising mental health conditions, responding safely in a crisis and signposting people to the right support
- Stress at Work (half day): the signs and causes of work stress, and how to manage it
- Wellbeing (half day): why wellbeing matters at work, stress and burnout, and supporting good mental health
Sources: Mental Health Foundation, Mental Health Awareness Week; Samaritans, Contact us. Correct as of 16 September 2026.
