The UK’s Mental Health Awareness Week runs from 12 -18 May this year, and it’s a time for reflection, understanding, and open conversations. This year, let’s shine a spotlight on something we don’t talk about nearly enough: treating our mental health with the same care and attention we give to physical health. When you catch a cold, you don’t hesitate to rest, maybe take some medicine, and let your body recover. It’s completely normal. No one bats an eyelid if you say, “I’m feeling under the weather today.” So why do we often hesitate to say, “I’m feeling overwhelmed,” or, “I’m don’t feel I’m coping too well at the moment”?
It’s Time to Treat Mental Health Like Physical Health
Our minds and bodies are deeply connected. Just as your body can feel run down, your mental health can go through tough patches too. Experiencing stress, anxiety, low moods, or burnout doesn’t mean something is “wrong” with you – it just means you’re human. The reality is, mental health struggles are incredibly common. According to the NHS England one in four people in the UK will experience a diagnosable mental health problem each year (https://www.england.nhs.uk/mental-health/adults). So why do we still treat it like a taboo subject?
When we start to view our mental health through the same lens as physical health, we allow ourselves the same grace and compassion. Just as you’d go to the GP for a lingering cough, it’s OK – and entirely healthy and sensible – to seek support for emotional struggles too.
Let’s Normalise the Conversation
One of the most powerful things we can do is talk about it. Mental health thrives in silence, but it begins to heal through openness.
Normalising conversations around mental wellbeing doesn’t mean you need to share your deepest feelings with everyone you meet. It could be as simple as checking in with a friend and asking, “How are you really doing?” And taking up the challenge of being more open by being honest on a rough day, and saying, “I’m not quite myself at the moment.”
Creating a culture where it’s OK to not be OK encourages others to open up too. It helps to break down the stigma of talking about it, bit by bit – and make you feel more able to tackle the effects of those tougher days bit by bit as well.
At work, school, home, or with friends, let’s make mental health part of everyday conversation – just like you might chat about a dodgy knee or a bad night’s sleep.
Building Mental Wellness into Your Routine
Just as you might go for a walk to keep your heart healthy or eat your five-a-day for physical wellness, there are ways to care for your mental wellbeing daily too:
- Sleep: never underestimate the power of good rest. Quality sleep supports emotional regulation and resilience.
- Movement: you don’t need to hit the gym every day – even a gentle walk or stretch can lift your mood.
- Connection: spend time with people who make you feel good. Social connection is a natural mood booster.
- Mindfulness: taking a few minutes each day to breathe deeply or practise gratitude can help ground you. It can be while you’re doing something completely routine, like washing up or walking the dog.
- Boundaries: say no when you need to. Rest isn’t lazy – it’s necessary.
These habits might seem small, but just like brushing your teeth or eating breakfast, they build and grow in strength over time.
If You’re Struggling, You’re Not Alone
It’s OK to ask for help, just as you do to address physical health problems. Whether you reach out to a friend, a family member, your GP, or a mental health charity, support is always available. Just as you wouldn’t ignore a recurring pain in your leg, don’t ignore ongoing feelings of stress, anxiety, or sadness.
There are so many fantastic resources in the UK, and we’re always here to help as well. Seeking support is a sign of strength, not weakness. It shows you value your wellbeing – and that’s something to be proud of.
This Mental Health Awareness Week, let’s challenge ourselves and each other to care for our minds the way we care for our bodies. Let’s be kinder to ourselves, speak more openly, and support those around us.
Mental health is health: full stop. Just like with physical health, prevention, care, and recovery are all part of the journey, and talking about it is the only way to change how we perceive it.
The post Mental Health Awareness Week – Treating Your Mental Health Like Your Physical Health appeared first on The Harley Psychology & Therapy Group.
