Mental Health Awareness Week is 11-17 May 2026, and the theme this year is taking action to support good mental health.
According to the Cambridge Dictionary, action is the process of doing something, typically to achieve a specific aim, or a deed performed. It signifies activity, movement, or the operation of a mechanism. Common examples include "taking action" to solve a problem, engaging in "legal action," or observing "action" in a film.
When thinking about action in relation to mental health, Mental Health Foundation is suggesting three perspectives – for yourself, for someone else, and for all of us. The first being finding something to boost our wellbeing, the second being building mentally healthy communities, and the latter being for those in power to take action to ensure good mental health.
But how can we action good mental health if we’re already feeling low? If you have ever felt low, chances are that the thought of attending a yoga class, or putting on your gym kit, or going out for a run, or even phoning a friend, has all felt just too much to manage. We often think of ‘big’ activities when it comes to how social media tells us how we’re supposed to manage low mood, but actually, some of the best advice we can follow, is to start small.
According to Mind and the NHS, instead of looking at the whole day, setting one small, achievable goal, such as brushing your teeth, opening the curtains, or getting out of bed before a certain time can actually help us so much more, than thinking we need to attempt something big, failing, and then feeling even worse.
Things like prioritising basic hygiene can make be a very beneficial action to consider. If showering feels impossible, for example, use dry shampoo, have a ‘pits and bits’ wash with a damp flannel, or simply change into clean pyjamas.
If you have outdoor space, perhaps another action to consider is to get some fresh air – even if it’s for a few minutes. Being outside has proven scientific benefits to our overall wellbeing, but if you’re struggling to leave the house and get outside, opening a window to get some fresh air and sunlight can also make a difference.
When thinking about the word action in relation to mental health, it can feel like there’s even more pressure on ourselves to ‘snap out of it’ or ‘try harder’, but thinking about the word action combined with compassion can help us to make smaller self-care acts that just might make things feel a little easier.