Mental Health Awareness Week: Ways to take action to improve your health

This week is Mental Health Awareness Week and the theme for 2026 is 'Take Action', so I'm sharing some ways you can take action to improve your health.

Every year, Mental Health Awareness Week is celebrated because it is important to ensure that everyone is not only looking after their physical wellbeing, but their mental wellbeing too.

The theme that the Mental Health Foundation have chosen for 2026 is 'Take Action'. Essentially, this is highlighting that whilst raising awareness of mental health struggles and ways to improve it is a key step, things will only change if we take action to actually support ourselves and others around us.

Actions don't have to be big, monumental actions; they can be small, little steps that you take one at a time.

So, for Mental Health Awareness Week, I'm sharing ways you can take action to improve your mental health and support others, too.

A problem shared is a problem halved

My first tip on how to take action in order to improve your mental health is to share with others. As humans, a lot of us thrive on social interaction with others and having a close community support around us, whether that's friends, family, a work colleague, etc.

Having these strong relationships with others means that when we need it, we have a confidant, we have someone we can talk to about our problems. And this is essential in improving your mental health.

There is nothing worse than keeping all your feelings and thoughts locked up tight in your mind especially when you're worried, anxious or stressed.

It's not an easy thing to open up and be vulnerable with someone, but by sharing your problems, others can help ease the burden.

Plus, if you're willing to share your problems and rely on others, they'll feel that they can do the same, so not only will you be helping yourself, but you're taking action to let others know you'd be there for them should they wish.

Become more analogue

We live in a world where technology is continually advancing, AI is becoming more prominent in everyday life, and most people are attached to their screens. I am definitely guilty of spending a lot of time on my phone, especially when it comes to BookTok.

However, there is, ironically, a 'social media' trend that is encouraging people to become more analogue. To swap their screen time with a non-screen-related hobby, such as reading.

So, my next tip to improve your mental health is to become more analogue. Forget about the wider world that you can access through your phone. Forget about capturing every single moment in a photo that you can later post on social media.

Instead, be present. Be in the moment. Go old school and leave your phone in a drawer for an hour. Embrace what you can see, what you can feel and what you can do without being attached to a screen.

Offer a helping hand

This next tip can not only help you, but also others around you and in your community. Offering a helping hand to someone who needs it doesn't have to be a mammoth task.

I'm not talking about driving your neighbour three hours to see their family — although you're more than welcome to do so — but more about the little things.

If you see someone struggling to reach the top bag of pasta off the shelf in the supermarket, or someone drops something as they walk past, or even someone who looks a little lost, offer to help them.

By showing an act of kindness, you'll make yourself feel good for helping someone in need and it helps the person you've aided. Plus, you never know if that person will pay it forward and go on to help someone else later that day.

Start by saying no

It is very easy to put yourself on the back burner and say yes to what other people ask of you. However, that is not necessarily the best way forward for your mental health.

So, this tip is all about saying no.

If you're asked by someone what you would prefer, whether it's a specific restaurant, a movie, or plans for the day, and you usually say, 'I don't mind', try stating what you actually would prefer. When someone asks you to do something which you haven't actually got much time for, say no.

It's easier said than done, I know; I'm a bit of a people pleaser myself. But I'm learning that in order to make sure my own mental health is in a good place, I have to put myself first sometimes, and that means saying no.

You can try saying no, and sometimes, it's not for you — look at Martha in Beyond Paradise on the BBC. However, you might surprise yourself.

Be a little selfish

My final tip relates to the one above, but what I'm focusing on when I say be a little selfish is to take the time for yourself.

During each day, make sure you have a little time for yourself where you can focus on yourself and do something you want. It doesn't have to be long; it can be for 10 minutes or, if you want, an hour.

But do something you enjoy because it will help you relax. An example of this is that every night before going to sleep, I try to read for at least 20 minutes because I love reading and having time to escape to another world helps me relax.

Whatever it may be, be selfish and find the time in your day to do something for you.

So, this Mental Health Awareness Week, I hope you find the time to take action. Whether it's big or small, long or short, a simple action can do wonders to improve your mental health.

Until next time...