Mental Health Awareness Week is an annual event in the UK, this year it takes place between 15th-21st May 2023. The purpose of the event is to raise awareness about mental health and well-being, as well as to encourage people to take steps to improve their mental health.
This year, the official theme for 2023’s Mental Health Awareness Week is anxiety. Charities and organisations will be looking at how anxiety can affect people living with severe mental illness.
For social media managers and content creators, Mental Health Awareness Week presents an opportunity to reach out to their audience and promote positive mental health practices. In this blog post, we will discuss some resources that social media managers can use to prepare for Mental Health Awareness Week 2023.
- Mental Health Foundation
The Mental Health Foundation is a UK-based charity that aims to raise awareness about mental health and promote positive mental health practices. They were the creators of Mental Health Awareness Week and they have shared an array of resources that will likely be useful.
You can find The Mental Health Foundation on Twitter, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn. They also released a social media guide that is perfect for any content creator wanting to utilise their suggested social media posts and graphics. Suggested social media posts include ways to spread awareness, specific anxiety themes and sharing what you’re doing to mark the week.
Brands and content creators on social media can also use their platform to promote self-care and self-compassion, by sharing tips and advice on how to manage stress, anxiety, and depression. They can also highlight the importance of social support and community, and encourage their followers to reach out to loved ones and seek professional help if necessary.
To find out more about how you can get involved this year with resources directly from The Mental Health Foundation, click here.
- Mind
Mind is another UK-based mental health charity that provides information and support to people with mental health problems. They also campaign to improve mental health services and raise awareness about mental health issues.
Mind has an active social media presence, with accounts on Twitter, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and LinkedIn.
Content creators can follow Mind to get inspiration for their own Mental Health Awareness Week campaigns and to stay informed about the latest developments in mental health. To find Mind’s Mental Health Awareness Week resources, click here.
- Rethink Mental Illness
Rethink Mental Illness is a charity that fights for equality, rights, fair treatment and maximum quality of life for all those affected by mental illness. During the campaign, Rethink Mental Illness is highlighting the unique anxieties faced by those living with severe mental illness on a daily basis, such as stigma, discrimination, lack of support, and limited access to housing and employment.
Mental Health Awareness Week is there to promote a greater understanding of anxiety beyond simplistic suggestions such as having a bath or lighting a candle and instead focus on addressing the complex challenges that are often experienced.
To find out more about how Rethink Mental Illness is addressing Mental Health Awareness Week, click here.
- NHS England
The National Health Service (NHS) is responsible for overseeing the delivery of healthcare services in England and they provide information and support for people with mental health problems. When sharing social media content on Mental Health Awareness Week, it may be beneficial to signpost people to NHS mental health services by sharing links to relevant NHS mental health services and resources, such as the NHS mental health services directory, the NHS mental health helpline, or the NHS mental health apps library.
To wrap up, Mental Health Awareness Week provides a unique opportunity for social media managers and content creators to raise awareness about mental health and promote positive mental health practices. By using the resources and guidance provided by The Mental Health Foundation, and other mental health charities, and by signposting people to NHS mental health services, social media managers can make a significant impact on the mental health and well-being of their audience. And, remember to use #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek alongside your posts.
Tinisha Osu
Tinisha Osu is a Marketing Executive with two degrees in Psychology. She is the first-author of a published psychology paper and is beginning her career in marketing through blog-writing, creating social media content and running marketing campaigns.