Mental Health Awareness Week
This week is Mental Health Awareness Week (13 - 19 May 2024) and this year’s theme is Movement: Moving more for our mental health.

Mental Health Awareness Week is an annual event providing an opportunity for the whole of the UK to focus on achieving good mental health. Across the country, people will be talking about their mental health and sharing their own experiences and helpful ideas on how to manage it.
Why movement?
Movement is important for our mental health. But so many of us struggle to move enough.
We know there are many different reasons for this, so this Mental Health Awareness Week the campaign is focusing on helping people to find moments for movement in their daily routines.
Going for a walk in your neighbourhood, putting on your favourite music and dancing around the living room, chair exercises when you’re watching television – it all counts!
Boost your mental health by moving more
One of the most important things you can do to help protect your mental health is regular movement. If you’d like to improve your mental health by moving more, read our tips to help you get started.
Read tips for movement
Bank Workers Charity: Mental wellbeing for adults
Your mind is an incredibly powerful tool. But sometimes feelings can overwhelm us, leaving us feeling lost. Use this helpful guide to spot, support and sustain the different aspects of your wellbeing.
Read this guide
Resources for Mental Health Awareness Week
Download posters and social media assets to help us spread awareness this Mental Health Awareness Week. All resources are from the Mental Health Foundation.
Find resources
The week is also a chance to talk about any aspect of mental health that people want to – regardless of the theme.
Accord is proud to support Mental Health Awareness Week.
Get involved
There are lots of ways that you can get involved with Mental Health Awareness Week:
- Download and print, or share a copy of the 'Let's move more for our mental health' poster
- Get social - download the social media posts and graphics and share with your friends and family online - use the hashtags #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek
- Share your experiences - what helps you manage your anxiety? Share your story with the hashtag #MomentsForMovement
- Connect - call a friend that you haven’t spoken to for a while, tell a family member how much you appreciate them or arrange a meet up outdoors
- Organise a Wear It Green Day at your workplace on Thursday 16 May to raise money and show your support
For more ways to get involved and show your support during the week, check out the resources available on the Mental Health Foundation website.
Mental health at work
Looking after your wellbeing when you're at work is so important.
Good mental health at work and good management go hand in hand and there is strong evidence that workplaces with high levels of mental wellbeing are more productive. Addressing wellbeing at work increases productivity by as much as 12%.
Below are some useful online resources available for supporting positive mental health at work:
- Download a copy of the ‘Support mental health at work’ guide, produced by The Mental Health Foundation, which covers how to manage your own mental health at work, how to reach out to a colleague in distress and how you can work with others to make your workplace more mentally healthy for everyone.
- Check out the Mental Health at Work website - it's got all the resources, tools, advice and recommendations you'll need to help support mental health in the workplace.
- Acas has published some really helpful information and tips on looking after mental health for individuals, managers and employers.
- Check out the 'Mental health at work' section on the Mind website for tips on burnout, working remotely, and looking after your staff.
- If you’re an Accord rep, check out the TUC’s ‘Mental health and the workplace’ digital workbook.
- The Bank Workers Charity has teamed up with PAM Wellbeing to offer you free access to the PAM Assist Wellbeing App which offers emotional and mental health support for mild to moderate issues including stress, anxiety and depression to improve all aspects of your wellbeing.
Good mental health at work and good management go hand in hand and there is strong evidence that workplaces with high levels of mental wellbeing are more productive.
Available support
- LBG’s Employee Assistance Programme (Validium): 0800 9700 100
- TSB's Employee Assistance Programme: 0800 0856 348
- Anxiety UK: https://www.anxietyuk.org.uk
- Mind mental health charity: https://www.mind.org.uk/
- Bank Workers Charity: 0800 0234 834 — https://www.bwcharity.org.uk/
- Samaritans: 116 123 — https://www.samaritans.org/
- NHS 'Every mind matters': https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/
- NHS (including 111): https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/suicide/

At Accord, all of our team of advisors have been accredited in Mental Health First Aid by MHFA England.
If you’re an Accord member and need a chat about support at work, call our helpline on 0118 934 1808.
Accord's ED&I Group

The Accord Equality Diversity & Inclusion group’s aim is to maximise our members' potential, regardless of background, and ensure everyone is treated with dignity and respect. It’s a place where diversity is celebrated, without prejudice or judgement. It’s a chance to collectively learn from our experiences and enrich all our lives.
The group get involved in a broad spectrum of events across the year. If you’re interested, why not get involved — email us at [email protected] or register to join online.