Hosted by the Mental Health Foundation, Mental Health Awareness Week takes place from 18-24 May 2020. This year's theme is kindness.
Kindness strengthens relationships, develops community, and deepens solidarity. It is a cornerstone of our individual and collective mental health. Wisdom from every culture across history recognises that kindness is something that all human beings need to experience and practice to be fully alive.
Kindness is defined by doing something towards yourself and others, motivated by a genuine desire to make a positive difference. We know from the research that kindness and our mental health are deeply connected. This research shows that kindness is an antidote to isolation and creates a sense of belonging. It helps reduce stress, brings a fresh perspective, and deepens friendships. Kindness to ourselves can prevent shame from corroding our sense of identity and help boost our self-esteem. Kindness can even improve feelings of confidence and optimism. To receive or to give kindness is an act of courage.
During Mental Health Awareness Week, The Mental Health Foundation is asking us to do three things:
Reflect on an act of kindness. Share our stories and pictures (with permission) of kindness during the week using #KindnessMatters and #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek
Use their resources in your family, school, workplace, and community to join with thousands in practicing acts of kindness to yourself and others during the week
Share your ideas on how you think we could build a kinder society that would support our mental health using #KindnessMatters and #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek
Join in this Mental Health Awareness Week and make kindness matter. Support each other to take that brave step and harness the benefits for both giver and receiver. Use this week to explore the sort of society we would like to emerge from the coronavirus pandemic. No act of kindness is ever wasted.
For more information about Mental Health Awareness Week and how you can get involved, please visit the Mental Health Foundation - What can you do for Mental Health Awareness Week? or watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qcyc68d6OAk#action=share
Steve Race
Manager - Student Wellbeing Service