Top Tips for Why Mental Health Is an Issue for All of Us
Mental Health Week takes place from 11th – 17th May 2026.
Why This Matters
Across the charity and voluntary sector, people are often deeply committed to their work.
That commitment can be a strength, but it can also mean pressure, emotional load and blurred boundaries go unnoticed until people are struggling.
Mental health stories are sometimes framed around individual resilience, coping strategies or self‑care.
While these have a place, they can unintentionally hide the role of workload, culture, expectations and systems in shaping wellbeing.
Mental Health Awareness Week offers a chance to reframe mental health as something created, supported or undermined collectively, not carried by individuals alone.
This Week’s Top Tips
Getting Clear
- Notice where high expectations are unspoken rather than discussed
- Be honest about workload, priorities and what can realistically be done
- Separate commitment from capacity, they are not the same thing
Working with Others
- Build in regular check‑ins that are about how work feels, not just outputs
- Normalise asking for help before people reach crisis point
- Encourage conversations that value boundaries as much as passion
Sustaining yourself and your team
- Challenge narratives that glorify overworking or constant availability
- Treat wellbeing as a shared responsibility, not a personal weakness
- Remember that clarity, trust and fairness are protective factors for mental health
A Gentle Reminder
Caring about your work should not require sacrificing your wellbeing. Sustainable organisations are built through realistic expectations and compassion, not endurance alone.
Over to You
You might like to notice one small systems change, even informal, that could reduce pressure or increase clarity for you or your team.
Mental health is shaped by how we work together. Small changes in culture often matter more than big statements.
Over to You:
Release Your Potential
These are my thoughts and perspectives (I’m not necessarily right or wrong, simply starting a conversation).
So, what about your thoughts? What is YOUR perspective?
- Do any of these things ring true for you and can you picture yourself putting these tips into action?
- What would it look, sound and feel like if you put some of these tips into action – for you and others?
- What barriers might you come against when putting these tips/ideas into action? How might you overcome them?
- Who could give you support and how?
- Have you tried these tips and ideas out and, if so, what have you learned?
I’d love to hear your thoughts, reflections, gut reactions, perceptions, experiences and wisdom.
Remember that sharing our experiences can help others, so your thoughts and comments are always welcome.
