Mental Health Awareness Month is observed in May each year. It draws attention to the fact that many people experience mental health issues, which can be severe and invisible. During this time, employers can host events that raise awareness, celebrate differences, and provide support for people with mental health diagnoses.
HR leaders can observe Mental Health Awareness Month by using mental health activities to drive awareness and support employees. This practice has several benefits for your team and your business at large.
Benefits of Using Mental Health Awareness Activities with Employees
Mental Health Awareness Month activities promote awareness within your team and among stakeholders like your partners and shareholders. They also demonstrate your business’s commitment to supporting mental health, which has a valuable impact on your public image.
Activities designed to improve the participants’ mental health have a direct, immediate impact on company culture. By encouraging employees to participate, you invite them to prioritize their well-being – not just during the event, but in general. These habits improve your employees’ health, decrease absenteeism, and boost productivity.
Best Mental Health Awareness Month Activities for the Workplace
While raising awareness is important, it’s just the first step in supporting your employees’ mental health. “Don’t just say you support mental health…model it,” says Colin Ethier, Principal Partner Relations Manager at Paycor. Learn more of Colin’s top strategies in his webinar, Mental Health in the Workplace: Tips to Help Leaders Make a Difference.
HR can produce a variety of mental health awareness activities, focusing on the mental health of participants and/or the wider community. If you’re looking for specific Mental Health Awareness Month activities to do in your workplace, start with this list:
Mental Health Activities for Employees
- Meditation Sessions
- Journaling Exercises
- Support Through EAPs
- Flexible Work Arrangements
- Partner with ERGs
- Stress Management Workshop
- Training to Understand Mental Health
- Conflict Resolution Training
- Mental Health First Aid Workshop
- Work-Life Balance Training
- Book Clubs
- Marathon or Step Challenge
- Fundraisers
- Volunteer Days
- Expert Speakers
Mental Health Activities for Employee Appreciation
1. Meditation Sessions
Meditation supports mental health by reducing symptoms of stress, anxiety, depression, and even physical pain. Hosting a group session can promote mindfulness among team members, encouraging them to develop an ongoing meditation practice.
However, leaders should know that meditation can make certain mental health symptoms worse, so it may not be safe for everyone on your team. For example, meditation can trigger flashbacks for people in certain stages of PTSD recovery. HR should make it clear that all Mental Health Awareness Month activities are optional and allow employees to leave early if necessary.
2. Journaling Exercises
Share daily or weekly journal prompts that encourage your team to reflect on issues like their work-life balance, sleep habits, and relationships. Self-awareness is an important step in anyone’s mental health journey – and central to the theme of Mental Health Awareness Month. If you have room in your budget, you could even give participants a free journal!
3. Support Through Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs)
If you don’t yet offer access to an EAP, May is a great time for HR to research this benefit. Employee Assistance Programs provide free, confidential phone support which can include direct counseling or help employees find other mental health services.
If you do offer an EAP, make sure your team knows about it. Unfortunately, data shows that 25% of employees don’t know if their employer covers mental health services (NAMI). HR leaders can address this issue by communicating with employees about benefits.
4. Flexible Work Arrangements
If your business model allows it, you can offer employees more flexibility during Mental Health Awareness Month. In-office or hybrid workers could get an extra day to work from home, or everyone on your team could receive an additional day of PTO. Before you announce these offerings, make sure you set clear guidelines about how and when team members can schedule time away.
5. Partner with an Employee Resource Group (ERG)
If your company has an ERG focused on mental health, reach out to its members for specific ideas. These employees have put a lot of thought into how mental health works at your unique company. HR can partner with them to gain valuable insights and brainstorm ideas for Mental Health Awareness Month activities.
Mental Health Awareness Workshop Ideas
6. Stress Management Techniques
Give employees practical, actionable tips they can use to manage stress. You could suggest strategies for time management, prioritization, and healthy coping mechanisms like working out or breathing exercises.
7. Understanding Mental Health
Misinformation about mental health issues contributes to stigma. Consider a workshop that provides an overview of common diagnoses such as anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder.
Note: Any workshop discussing clinical information should be led by an experienced mental health professional, like a therapist or psychiatrist.
8. Conflict Resolution
Many mental health conditions can easily damage relationships. And just like physical pain, emotional distress can make people irritable and impatient or impact their energy levels. At work, these symptoms can interfere with deadlines and team projects. Teaching all your employees how to resolve conflict makes it easier to work through any issues that arise because of mental health symptoms.
9. Mental Health First Aid Training
The stigma around mental health often prevents people from getting the help they need. Sharing mental health first aid strategies with your team teaches them how to get support without the burden of talking about their symptoms at work.
You could share a list of resources (hotlines, reputable websites, etc.), advice about how to look for a therapist, or key information about which mental healthcare benefits you provide.
10. Work-Life Balance Strategies
66% of U.S. employees are currently experiencing burnout (Forbes). Experts disagree about whether this qualifies as a mental health diagnosis – as of 2025, burnout is listed in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) but not the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) (National Library of Medicine).
Either way, its symptoms have a severe impact on employee wellness and productivity. Providing your team with more effective work-life balance strategies is one of the best ways to combat burnout.
Fun Mental Health Team-Building Activities
11. Organize a Book Club
Reading is a great way to learn about any sensitive subject. Book clubs can give employees a structured, psychologically safe way to talk about mental health issues. Team members can also use this forum to discuss other issues that may impact their mental health or general well-being or just connect with each other about shared interests. If your company has Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), partner with them to facilitate this process.
12. Run a Marathon
Organize a team to run a marathon, 5k, or even a triathlon to raise money for a mental health organization. This activity supports mental health while building team spirit among participants. For example, a monthly step challenge encourages friendly competition and mutual support. When employees inspire each other to focus on wellness, you create a positive, sustainable feedback loop and a culture of wellness.
13. Host a Fundraiser
Raise money to donate to a reputable mental health organization, like the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or similar. You could collect donations from people on your team, host a gala, or produce a smaller event like a bake sale or walkathon. If possible, your company can match any donations to amplify the impact.
Just make sure to research any organization carefully before you donate to them. A great deal of information about mental health is biased or inaccurate, and it’s important to choose your partners carefully.
14. Volunteer with a Community Organization
Partner with a local organization that directly supports people with mental health issues. Depending on their programs, your team could serve meals at a homeless shelter, collect and organize donations, or participate in other activities.
15. Host Speakers
Invite mental health experts to speak to your team or in an open forum. Ask them to share information about mental health conditions, coping strategies, and the importance of seeking help. You can also host mental health webinars for your wider community.
Should You Celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month?
As you plan mental health awareness activities, make sure you take a careful, respectful approach. Many people celebrate their mental health journeys – and you can certainly celebrate all the people on your team, whether or not they experience mental health issues. But remember that severe mental illness can be life-threatening – and it’s often invisible. Some of the people who care most about Mental Health Awareness Month might not see it as a time for celebration.
Never make assumptions about who on your team might have mental health issues, or who’s been impacted by a loved one’s illness. If there’s a particular diagnosis you’d like to support, do plenty of research before you plan specific events.
How Paycor Helps with Mental Health Awareness Month
Paycor’s tools empower leaders to support their teams. Here’s how:
- The scheduling software makes it easy for HR to host events without leaving gaps during peak business hours.
- Our Benefits administration tools allow you to support your team by offering a comprehensive mental healthcare plan.
- Our Center of Excellence includes free resources that you can use to educate leaders about wellness programs, encourage psychological safety, and promote mental health at work.
And that’s just the beginning! Connect with us to learn more about Paycor’s best-in-class HR software.
Use Paycor to Foster Better Employee Mental Health
Paycor’s Talent Management Software gives leaders, managers, and frontline employees the tools they need to succeed at work, whether or not they experience mental health symptoms.
Remember, supporting mental health doesn’t just mean being patient during difficult times. It’s also essential for leaders to give employees career development opportunities, encouraging them to learn, grow, and show up as their best selves – even when it’s hard.