May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and this year’s theme is “In Every Story, There’s Strength.”
Every mental health journey is unique, and each story holds its own remarkable strength.
Consider that:
- An estimated 15% of working-age adults have a mental disorder at any point in time
- Hearing about colleagues' mental health struggles can normalize access to support and increase the use of existing peer-to-peer programs by as much as 8%
Mental Health Awareness Month offers an opportunity to share stories of hope and strength, promote understanding, and help employees feel more comfortable seeking support. What may seem like a small effort from your organization can go a long way. A thoughtful message, a shared resource, or a simple awareness activity can help make mental health and wellbeing feel more visible and more approachable.
This year, we have 30 ways for you to celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month, no matter where your employees are located or what your timelines and budgets look like. We've broken our list into three categories to make things even easier.
With that in mind, let's dive into all the ways to celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month in 2026!
Easy ways to celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month at work
Not every Mental Health Awareness Month activity needs to be a major event. In fact, some of the most effective efforts are simple, visible, and easy for employees to join. These ideas can help employers recognize the month in a practical way while promoting awareness and support across the workplace.
1. Highlight available mental health benefits
Throughout May, highlight one mental health or wellbeing resource each week and remind employees how to access it. This could include your employee assistance program, counseling support, digital tools, crisis resources, wellbeing content, or other available benefits. Share each spotlight by email, on your intranet, in manager talking points, or through internal signage. A weekly cadence helps keep support visible during the month and gives employees repeated reminders that help is available.
2. Encourage employees to wear green
Did you know the official color of Mental Health Awareness Month is green? A wear-green day is a simple way to show visible support across the organization. Invite employees to wear green to the office or during virtual meetings, and encourage leaders to participate as well. You can build on the idea by creating a themed challenge, such as an office or desk decorating contest. Consider offering small prizes for participation. This type of activity is easy to launch and can help spark conversation in a low-pressure way. It often results in great photos for internal communications and company social channels as well.
3. Create a workplace gratitude wall
Set up a gratitude wall in a common area where employees can post notes of appreciation, encouragement, or recognition for co-workers. Remote teams? This activity is easy to maintain and encourages positive connection throughout the month. To tie it back to the broader theme, invite employees to share who or what helps them feel supported at work.
4. Curate a book, podcast, or article list
Create a short list of books, podcasts, articles, or videos focused on mental health, stress management, resilience, or work-life balance. Consult your EAP or trusted professionals if you need ideas. Share the list with employees and encourage them to explore one or two resources during the month. You may also want to include a brief note about why each resource was selected. This activity can work well for employers looking to share thoughtful content without hosting a formal event.
5. Use CuraLinc’s 1 in 5 campaign resources to encourage conversation
Visit curalinc.com/1in5 to access tip sheets, infographics, conversation starters, a self-care challenge, and more. Use these resources to help start the conversation about Mental Health Awareness Month and the importance of mental health and wellbeing. You can also find printable campaign materials in both English and Spanish. Download and print these materials to place in high-traffic areas. Show your support for employee mental health by sharing these resources and any Mental Health Awareness Month event photos on social media. Be sure to use hashtags like #SupportNotStigma and #1in5 to amplify your message.
6. Launch a kindness challenge
Encourage employees to take part in a kindness challenge during Mental Health Awareness Month. Each day or week, share a simple prompt such as checking in with a co-worker, thanking someone for their support, or doing something thoughtful for a teammate. You can keep the challenge informal or add a tracking element with team participation goals. Promote connection and reinforce a supportive workplace culture through active practice.
7. Set up a healthy snack or hydration station
If you have an on-site workforce, consider creating a snack or hydration station for employees to enjoy during the month. Offer fruit, trail mix, tea, infused water, or other simple items that help encourage healthy habits during the workday. Add signage that connects the station to Mental Health Awareness Month and include information about your mental health and wellbeing resources nearby. Small events like this can make participation feel easy and welcoming.
8. Share leadership messages that support wellbeing
Invite senior leaders to share short messages recognizing Mental Health Awareness Month and reinforcing the importance of employee wellbeing. These can be written notes, video messages, or brief comments during team meetings. The message doesn't need to be lengthy to be effective. A thoughtful statement from leadership can help set the tone, reduce stigma, and show that mental health is a priority for your organization.
9. Invite employees to take a mental health pledge
Invite employees to participate in a simple Mental Health Awareness Month pledge focused on support, respect, and openness in the workplace. The pledge could encourage actions like checking in on co-workers, speaking with kindness, making time for self-care, or learning more about available resources. You can share it digitally or in person and invite employees to sign individually or as teams. This is an easy way to encourage participation while reinforcing a culture of care and awareness.
10. End the month with a reflection and thank-you message
As May comes to a close, take time to thank employees for participating and reflect on the month’s activities. Send a recap email, share photos or highlights, or invite employees to provide feedback on what they found most meaningful. This is also a good opportunity to remind employees that support extends beyond Mental Health Awareness Month. A simple closing message can help the month feel more intentional.
Group activities for Mental Health Awareness Month
Mental Health Awareness Month can be a meaningful time to bring employees together in ways that promote connection, conversation, and wellbeing. Group activities can help make support more visible across the workplace while giving employees a chance to learn and engage with one another in new ways throughout the month.
1. Host a lunch and learn on a mental health topic
A lunch and learn is a practical way to bring employees together and share useful information during Mental Health Awareness Month. Choose a topic that feels relevant to your workforce, such as stress management, burnout prevention, mindfulness, work-life balance, or how to support a colleague. You can invite an internal speaker, partner with a mental health professional, or work with your EAP. Offer time for questions, and if possible, record the session so employees who cannot attend live can watch later.
2. Schedule physical activities
Shake up the workday by organizing physical activities that promote mental health and wellbeing. You might host a group walk, a stretching session, or a yoga class. If you have the budget, consider bringing in a trained instructor to lead the activity. These events can help employees step away from their desks, reset during the day, and engage in healthy habits that support both physical and mental wellbeing. If you're hosting multiple events, create a calendar and consider using sign-up forms to stay organized. You can also hold a raffle and offer prizes for attendees.
3. Take time to get creative
Creative activities can give employees a chance to relax, connect, and express themselves in a different way. Consider organizing a coloring station, journaling activity, vision board session, or art-based workshop during the month. You can keep the activity simple with supplies in a shared space or offer a scheduled event for teams to join together. Creative activities work especially well because they are approachable, low-pressure, and easy to adapt for different employee groups.
4. Host quizzes and contests
Friendly competitions can add energy and encourage participation during Mental Health Awareness Month. You might create a trivia quiz about mental health facts, a wellbeing-themed photo contest, or a team challenge focused on positive habits. Keep the tone light and supportive, and offer small prizes or recognition for participation. Activities like these can help raise awareness while making the month feel interactive and engaging.
5. Host a mental health and wellness fair
If you have more time and resources, consider dedicating a day to a mental health and wellness fair. Invite local organizations, wellness vendors, benefit partners, or internal teams to host tables and share information. You may also want to include chair massages, mini yoga sessions, healthy snacks, or short presentations throughout the day. A wellness fair can be a strong way to bring multiple resources together in one place and encourage employees to explore the support available to them.
6. Host a mindfulness or breathing session
A mindfulness or breathing session can give employees a simple way to pause, reset, and recharge during the workday. Consider scheduling a short guided session before work, during lunch, or in the afternoon when stress and often start to build. You can bring in a facilitator, partner with a local practitioner, or use a virtual guided session to lead employees through breathing exercises or meditation. Keep the session optional and approachable so employees of all experience levels feel comfortable participating.
7. Start a team for your local NAMIWalk
Participating in a local NAMIWalk can be a meaningful way to recognize Mental Health Awareness Month while supporting a larger cause. Encourage employees to sign up as individuals or as part of a company team, and consider providing branded shirts for the event. This can be a good opportunity to build camaraderie, support mental health advocacy, and get employees involved outside the office. If a local walk is not available, you could organize your own awareness walk as an alternative.
8. Host a team coffee chat
A team coffee chat is a simple way to encourage connection during Mental Health Awareness Month. Invite employees to gather for a short, informal break over coffee, tea, or snacks, either in person or virtually. Keep the conversation light and optional, and consider offering a few workplace-friendly prompts about stress management, healthy routines, or what helps employees feel supported at work. A casual event like this can help strengthen team connection and make conversations around mental health and wellbeing feel more natural and approachable.
9. Host recess
Bring some fun into the workday by hosting recess-style activities employees can join during breaks or lunch. You might offer classic games such as cornhole, jump rope, sidewalk chalk, or team relays, depending on your space and culture. The goal is to give employees a chance to step away from work, move around, laugh, and reconnect. Recess can be a refreshing and memorable addition to your Mental Health Awareness Month efforts.
10. Organize a volunteer or give-back activity
Consider organizing a volunteer activity that supports mental health awareness or a related local cause. This could include participating in a fundraiser, assembling care kits, supporting a nonprofit event, or hosting a donation drive. Group volunteer activities can help employees connect around a shared purpose while reinforcing your organization’s commitment to wellbeing and community support.
Virtual and hybrid Mental Health Awareness Month ideas
Mental Health Awareness Month activities should be accessible to all employees, including those who work remotely or in hybrid settings. These ideas can help you create meaningful opportunities for connection, awareness, and support regardless of where your employees are located.
1. Host a virtual lunch and learn or webinar
A virtual lunch and learn or webinar can be an easy way to engage remote and hybrid employees. Choose a topic that feels relevant to your workforce and encourage participation with interactive elements like polls, chat, or time for questions. If possible, record the session so employees who cannot attend live can still access the content later.
2. Create a digital message board for encouragement and reflection
Use your intranet, collaboration platform, or a shared digital board to invite employees to post encouraging messages, gratitude notes, or ideas that help them recharge during the workday. You can encourage participation with prompts such as “What is your favorite way to de-stress?” or “What is one habit that you feel supports your wellbeing?” This is an easy way to encourage connection and create a shared experience across locations.
3. Host a virtual self-care bingo challenge
A self-care bingo challenge can make participation fun and accessible for remote and hybrid employees. Create a bingo card with simple activities such as taking a walk, drinking more water, logging off on time, attending a wellbeing event, or practicing gratitude. Employees can complete squares throughout the month and submit their cards for recognition or small prizes. This type of activity is easy to distribute and manage virtually, and can help keep Mental Health Awareness Month visible throughout May.
4. Hold a no-meeting hour
Set aside one hour each week when employees are encouraged to step away from meetings and use the time in whatever way feels most helpful. Some may use it for focused work, while others may take a break, go for a walk, or reset between responsibilities. For remote and hybrid teams, this can be a meaningful way to acknowledge the mental load of a full schedule and encourage healthy boundaries during the workday. You can even survey your teams to see if this is helpful as an ongoing strategy to support mental health and wellbeing.
5. Run a weekly wellbeing theme
Choose a different theme for each week of May and build simple digital activities around it. One week might focus on gratitude, another on movement, another on connection, and another on support resources. Share each theme by email, chat, or your intranet, along with a small activity employees can complete on their own or with co-workers. This can help give the month structure while keeping awareness efforts fresh and engaging. Consider using some of the activities throughout this post to help you get started.
6. Invite employees to share what helps them recharge
Ask employees to contribute short tips, habits, or routines that help them manage stress and maintain wellbeing during the workday. You can collect responses through a survey, internal form, or team chat and then share them back throughout the month. This is an easy way to create employee-driven content while encouraging peer-to-peer support and connection.
7. Offer a virtual wellness fair
A virtual wellness fair can be a great option for a distributed workforce. Instead of in-person booths, create a day or week of online sessions, digital resources, and links to internal and external support options. You may want to include live speakers, short educational sessions, or recorded content employees can view on their own time. This format can help you bring together multiple resources in a way that feels more flexible.
8. Share a month-long participation calendar
Create a digital calendar with one small prompt or activity for each week or each business day of May. Include simple ideas such as taking a screen break, checking in with a co-worker, attending a webinar, or exploring a support resource. Share the calendar in a format employees can save, print, or revisit throughout the month. This can help keep participation going without requiring employees to commit to one large event.
9. Host a virtual team coffee chat
A virtual team coffee chat can create a casual, low-pressure opportunity for your employees to connect during Mental Health Awareness Month. Set aside 20 to 30 minutes for employees to join a video call with coffee, tea, or a snack, and keep the conversation focused on connection rather than work tasks. You can leave the conversation open-ended or offer a few light prompts about daily routines, stress management, or what helps employees feel supported. A simple event like this can help remote team members feel more connected and included. This is another great activity to get feedback on. You may find that just a short, scheduled chat helps improve team engagement and overall wellbeing.
10. Share a guided mindfulness or meditation break
A guided mindfulness or meditation break can be an easy way for remote and hybrid employees to pause and reset during the day. You can schedule a live virtual session or share a recorded option that employees can use when it works best for them. Consider keeping the session short and approachable, especially for employees who may be new to mindfulness practices. This type of activity can be a simple but effective way to support wellbeing throughout the month.
How to keep the momentum going after Mental Health Awareness Month
Remember that raising awareness, supporting employee wellbeing, and reducing stigma isn't just a month-long effort. Here are a few additional ways you can keep the momentum going after Mental Health Awareness Month has ended.
- Start a wellness committee so employees are empowered to share suggestions and feedback on mental health and wellbeing benefits, communication, and events
- Gather anonymous feedback on which activities employees found most meaningful and use that input to shape future mental health and wellbeing efforts
- Promote ongoing training on mental health and wellbeing so it stays top of mind for everyone across the organization
By fostering a culture of support and prioritizing mental health year-round, you can create an environment where employees feel supported and valued. Remember, even small, consistent efforts can make a meaningful difference in promoting wellbeing in the workplace.
Looking for more actionable insights in employee mental health?
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