Mental Health Awareness Week 2026
Take ACTION for Your Mental Wellbeing
Mental Health Awareness Week takes place from 11–17 May, and this year’s theme is Take ACTION.
If you are an unpaid carer, looking after your own mental wellbeing can often come last. Although caring for someone else can be rewarding, it can also be exhausting, stressful, and emotionally demanding.
This Mental Health Awareness Week is about recognising that your mental wellbeing matters too. Taking action doesn’t mean big changes. Sometimes it’s small, realistic steps — reaching out, learning something new, or simply permitting yourself to pause.
Take ACTION to Get Support for Your Mental Wellbeing
Taking action might mean asking for help. We offer a range of services designed specifically to support unpaid carers and help ease some of the pressures you may be facing.
Counselling Service
Our Counselling Service provides a confidential, non‑judgemental space where unpaid carers can talk openly about how they’re feeling.
You might want to talk about stress, anxiety, low mood, burnout, or the emotional impact of caring. Counselling offers time that’s just for you — a space to be listened to and supported.
Money Matters
Money worries are a major source of stress for many unpaid carers and can have a serious impact on mental wellbeing.
Our Money Matters service offers practical support and advice around finances, benefits, and money‑related concerns. Getting help with financial issues can reduce pressure and help you feel more in control.
Short Breaks
Carers often tell us they feel guilty about taking time for themselves — but rest is not a luxury; it’s essential.
Short Breaks give unpaid carers the chance to rest, recharge and focus on their own wellbeing. Taking a break is a positive action, and even a small break can make a big difference.
Take ACTION to Build Your Wellbeing
Carer Wellbeing Journey
Our Carer Wellbeing Journey is a collection of online modules created specifically for unpaid carers.
The modules support carers to:
- Access tools to support your mental wellbeing.
- Deal with challenging circumstances
- Cope with change
You can access the modules at your own time, at your own pace. You do not have to complete everything — even engaging with one module is a meaningful action for your mental wellbeing.
The Mental Health Foundation have also created 3 tip sheets that are designed to give you the tools to take action to support your own mental health. From quick-wins and simple actions to long-term lifestyle shifts, try a few to find what works best for you. Click below to download.
- Top ten actions for good mental health
- Quick actions for a mental health boost
- Eight actions to improve mental health in the long-term
Take ACTION to Pause, Breathe and Reflect
Sometimes caring means you’re always “on.” Taking action can also mean allowing yourself a few quiet moments.
We’ve created YouTube playlists to support carers with information, advice, tips and exercises to support mental health.
YouTube Playlists
- Mental Health Playlist – A collection of all our videos that discuss the topic of Mental Health. Click here to explore
- Decider Skills Playlist – advice, tips and exercises for emotional awareness and self‑regulation. Click here to explore
Take ACTION if You’re Finding Things Hard
If caring is affecting your mental wellbeing and things feel overwhelming, it’s important to know that support is available.
Alongside our own services, the following organisations offer support, understanding and someone to talk to (please click on the service to open a link to their webpage).
- Hope Point
- Penumbra
- Community Listening Service
- Samaritans – available 24 hours a day if you need immediate support
- Alternatives Dundee
- The Spark
- Insight Counselling
- Wellbeing works Dundee
- SAMH
- Breathing Space helpline
Reaching out is a positive and crucial step for your Mental Health.
You Matter Too
Mental Health Awareness Week is a reminder that unpaid carers’ mental wellbeing matters — not just this week, but all year round.
This year’s theme, Take ACTION, is about choosing what feels right for you. That action might be:
- asking for support
- taking a short break
- learning something new
- talking to someone
- or simply being kinder to yourself