11 May 2026

This week, we're supporting Mental Health Awareness Week 2026 by encouraging colleagues, patients and communities to take action for better mental health.

Led nationally by the Mental Health Foundation, this year’s theme is Action recognising that while awareness is important, meaningful change happens when people take practical steps to support mental wellbeing.

Running from 11–17 May, the campaign highlights how even small actions can have a positive impact, whether that’s checking in on a friend, making time to rest, seeking support, speaking openly about mental health, or helping create healthier communities and workplaces.

At CNWL, supporting mental health and wellbeing remains a key priority across the Trust’s services, teams and communities. Throughout the week, colleagues are being encouraged to reflect on the actions they can take for themselves, for others and for the wider community.

The theme aligns closely with CNWL’s ongoing work to improve access to mental health support, reduce stigma and promote compassionate conversations across healthcare settings and local communities.

The Mental Health Foundation says the 2026 theme was chosen because “while awareness is vital, real change comes when we take action too.”

CNWL is encouraging everyone to take one positive action this week — no matter how small to support better mental health.

To learn more about Mental Health Awareness Week 2026 and access resources, visit the Mental Health Foundation website.

View our CNWL Mental health services here.

  • CNWL Talking Therapies

    We provide a range of talking therapies for people who feel anxious and worried, or down and depressed.

  • Mental Health Support Team in schools (MHST)

    The Mental Health Support Teams (MHST) are an early intervention service who work in partnership with local schools to offer a whole school approach to mental health and wellbeing.

  • Young Adults (16 – 25s) Mental Health and Wellbeing Space

    Everyone is different, so the help they need will be different too. Good mental health allows us to live life in a positive and meaningful way. It helps us to work or study to our full potential, cope with day-to-day life stresses and be involved in the community

  • Mental Health Crisis Assessment Service (MHCAS)

    The Mental Health Crisis Assessment Service (MHCAS) provides immediate therapeutic support 24/7 for those experiencing a Mental Health crisis.

  • Kooth - Online mental health service

    You can access free, safe and anonymous support through Kooth - an online mental health community provided by qualified practitioners.

  • Milton Keynes Community Mental Health Hub

    The Milton Keynes Community Mental Health Hub brings together a wide range of mental health professionals working together as a multi-disciplinary team who can provide evidence-based health and social care interventions. With service users at its heart, our aim is to deliver excellent care at the right time with a mutual focus on recovery.

  • Perinatal mental health

    Our Perinatal Mental Health services offer specialist assessment, treatment and advice to women and birthing people experiencing mental health difficulties during pregnancy and within the first year after delivery.

  • Hillingdon Community Mental Health Hub

    Hillingdon Community Mental Health Hub, bring together a range of health care professionals who have specialist skills in working with people who have mental health needs.

  • Brent Community Mental Health Hub

    Brent Community Mental Health Hub brings together a wide range of mental health professionals working as a multi-disciplinary team who provide evidence-based health and social care interventions.

CNWL has a range of services to support you including self-serve online support, workshops on wellbeing topics, interventions and support and talking to someone. 

Keeping Well

The Keeping Well services (NWL and BLMK) offer free, psychological support to health and social care staff. You can have a confidential chat with their wellbeing practitioners. They also have a range of self-help and signposting resources around anxiety and other common problems such as stress, low mood or worry.

For staff in London

If you work or live in North West London, visit the Keeping Well NWL website or contact:

For staff in Milton Keynes

If you work or live in Bedfordshire, Luton or Milton Keynes, visit the Keeping Well BLMK website or contact:

Events

Wednesday 13 May

CNWL Talking Therapies Service Westminster are offering a drop session at the Rampayne Street Community Hub between 11am and 1pm.

Community Hub, Rampayne St, Lillington and Longmoore Gardens, London SW1V 2PU

Thursday 14 May

CNWL Talking Therapies Service Westminster are offering a drop session at Age UK, Regent Hall, 275 Oxford Street, between 11am and 1:30pm.

Community living well, Kensington and Chelsea will be at the drop in session on Thursday 14 May, 12pm at The Earls Court Health and Wellbeing Centre, 2b Hogarth Rd, London SW5 0PT

Friday 15 May

CNWL Talking Therapies Service Westminster are offering a drop session at City of Westminster College, 25 Paddington Green, between 10am and 2pm.

Previous events

More than 100 men attended Men Matter, a community health and wellbeing event co-designed with local organisations supporting men across the borough.

The event brought together health, wellbeing and community partners to provide accessible support around mental health, cancer awareness, health checks, smoking cessation, sexual health, alcohol reduction and weight management. Attendees also took part in activities including yoga, Tai Chi and boxing.

Initial feedback has been extremely positive, with partners reporting record numbers of men accessing health checks, 28 sign-ups to Open Age, and enough interest for Imperial and Chelsea FC to launch their men’s weight management programme.

The event highlighted how targeted, partnership-led outreach can successfully engage men who may not usually access traditional health and wellbeing services.

The Black Men’s Wellbeing Festival continues this month with weekly Tuesday evening sessions running until 26 May 2026, open to both staff and local communities.

The next session takes place on Tuesday 12 May at 7pm and will feature speakers Kudzai Midzi and Brian Zharare discussing The Father I’m Becoming and Financial Pressures of Men in the Diaspora.

The festival aims to create safe and supportive spaces for open conversations around men’s wellbeing, identity, mental health and community experiences.

Staff and community members can register via Eventbrite or join the sessions directly on MS Teams.

For Mental Health Awareness Week, the Community Living Well outreach programme is delivering a new workshop, Journalling for Joy, inspired by this year’s theme of “Taking Action.”

The workshop will be delivered across Community Champion Hubs in Kensington and Chelsea, encouraging people to explore journalling as a practical tool to support wellbeing, reflection and positive mental health. It marks another busy and positive week for the outreach programme and its ongoing work within local communities.