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 hosting activities to drive awareness and support employees. This practice has several benefits for your team and your business at large.
What Are Mental Health Awareness Activities?
Mental health awareness activities are structured programs, events, and practices that help employees learn about mental health, reduce stigma, and feel supported at work. They range from individual wellness practices (like meditation or journaling) to team activities.
For example, HR could host workshops, fundraisers, or company-wide events tied to Mental Health Awareness Month in May.
The best workplace mental health activities do two things at once: they start important conversations within the team, and they empower individual employees to improve their own mental health.
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. HR can host a variety of mental health awareness activities, focusing on the mental health of participants and the wider community.
If you’re looking for specific Mental Health Awareness Month activities to do in your workplace, start with this list:
- Meditation Sessions
- Journaling Exercises
- Support Through Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs)
- Flexible Work Arrangements
- Partner with an Employee Resource Group (ERG)
- Host a Wellness Challenge
- Create a Mental Health Resource Library
- Offer Mental Health Days
- Send a Personalized Appreciation Message
- Stress Management Techniques
- Understanding Mental Health
- Conflict Resolution
- Mental Health First Aid Training
- Work-Life Balance Strategies
- Psychological Safety Workshop
- Financial Wellness Workshop
- Manager Mental Health Training
- Organize a Book Club
- Run a Race
- Host a Fundraiser
- Volunteer with a Community Organization
- Host Speakers
- Nature Walk or Outdoor Activity Day
- Creative Expression Workshop
- Organize a Social Event
Mental Health Activities for Employee Appreciation
These activities give employees concrete skills and resources they can use long after Mental Health Awareness Month ends. HR should offer a variety of options so every member of your team can find something that resonates with them.
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, and HR can partner with them to gain insights and ideas for Mental Health Awareness Month.
Note: If you don’t have an ERG yet, consider whether this might be the right time to launch one. A mental health or wellness-focused ERG can serve as an ongoing resource for your team well beyond May, helping HR stay connected to employee needs throughout the year.
6. Host a Wellness Challenge
Structured wellness challenges offer a fun, low-pressure way to help your employees build healthy habits together.
You might run a week-long step challenge, a hydration tracker, or a daily movement goal — all of which have documented links to improved mental health outcomes.
7. Create a Mental Health Resource Library
Compile a curated collection of mental health resources employees can easily access on their own time. It could include links to reputable websites, recommended books and podcasts, a list of crisis hotlines, and clear information about your company’s EAP and mental health benefits. A resource library is especially useful for employees who don’t want to engage in group activities but still need mental health support.
8. Offer Mental Health Days
Unlike a general wellness benefit buried in a handbook, a named Mental Health Day sends a clear message: this company takes your well-being seriously.
You might offer one per quarter or announce a company-wide Mental Health Day at the start of Mental Health Awareness Month in May, as a visible demonstration of your company values.
9. Send a Personalized Appreciation Message
Mental Health Awareness Month is a natural moment to remind employees that you value their contributions. Encourage managers to send each direct report a brief, personalized note acknowledging something specific about their work.
Recognition has a direct impact on employee well-being, and a thoughtful message costs nothing.
Mental Health Awareness Workshop Ideas
Workshops go beyond raising awareness, giving employees practical strategies they can use right away. The following ideas can work as standalone events or as part of a broader Mental Health Awareness Month program. If you plan to discuss clinical content, always bring in a qualified mental health professional to lead the conversation.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. 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.
13. 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.
14. 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.
15. Psychological Safety Workshop
Psychological safety (PS) is at the core of any meaningful conversation about mental health.
In a psychologically safe environment, managers and employees alike can show up as their full, authentic selves, without fear of judgment.
A workshop on PS empowers everyone on your team to be more welcoming, supportive, and compassionate. Get this right, and you’ll see major improvements to company culture and employee well-being.
16. Financial Wellness Workshop
Because financial stress is closely tied to anxiety, it has a direct impact on mental health. Financial wellness workshops that cover practical topics like budgeting, debt management, or retirement planning address the underlying cause of this stress.
Many employee assistance providers offer financial counseling as part of their services. Mental Health Awareness Month is a great opportunity to remind employees they can access these resources.
17. Manager Mental Health Training
Managers are often the first people to notice when a team member is struggling…but the least prepared to respond.
Host a dedicated training session for people leaders, teaching them how to recognize signs of distress, approach sensitive conversations with care, and encourage employees to access their existing mental health benefits. Make sure your leaders understand how to provide support without overstepping any legal or ethical boundaries.
Fun Mental Health Team-Building Activities
Team-building activities develop company culture and cultivate trust, which makes it easier for employees to support each other.
18. 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.
Book clubs are also team-building opportunities. They give employees a forum to share ideas, learn from each other, and deepen their professional relationships. Learning about new topics as a group can drive company culture and innovation.
If your company has Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), partner with them to facilitate this process.
19. Run a Race
Organize a team to run a 5k, marathon, or even a triathlon to raise money for a mental health organization. This is a great way to support mental health while also building team spirit.
20. 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 all organizations 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.
21. 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.
22. 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.
23. Nature Walk or Outdoor Activity Day
Getting outside together is one of the simplest team-building activities. A group walk, hike, or outdoor lunch can give employees a mental reset while creating informal space for connection.
Nature-based activities are especially accessible because they require no specific skill level and no prior experience with mental health topics; anyone can show up and participate.
24. Creative Expression Workshop
Art, music, and writing are well-established outlets for processing difficult emotions. A creative workshop (painting, writing, sculpting, etc.) invites employees to express themselves without sharing overly personal details. These experiences are fun, cathartic, and memorable, facilitating stronger relationships among team members.
25. Organize a Social Event
Sometimes, the most meaningful thing a company can do for employee mental health is create space for genuine human connection.
A casual team event, like a shared meal or game night, gives employees the chance to connect outside of their usual work context. These moments of informal connection build trust, which makes it easier for people to support each other through difficult times.
How to Choose Your Mental Health Awareness Activities
Not every activity is right for every team. Before you finalize your Mental Health Awareness Month lineup, consider the following factors:
- Your team’s comfort level: Some employees are eager to discuss mental health openly; others may find group activities uncomfortable. Offer a range of options, including some that don’t require public participation.
- Company size and resources: Scale your program based on company size to keep it financially sustainable.
- Whether clinical content is involved: Any activity that touches on diagnoses, symptoms, or crisis intervention should be led by a qualified mental health professional, not an HR leader or well-meaning manager.
- Voluntary participation: Mental health activity should NEVER be mandatory. Give employees the freedom to opt out without explanation, and make it clear that participation has no impact on their performance reviews.
How to Organize Activities for Mental Health Awareness
Planning mental health awareness activities takes more than booking a conference room. Here’s how to do it well.
Set Clear Goals
Start by deciding what you want to accomplish. Are you primarily focused on reducing stigma, improving employee wellbeing, or educating your team about available resources? Your goals will shape which activities make the most sense.
Get Leadership Buy-In
Mental health programs land differently when company leaders visibly support them.
Before you announce your plans, brief your leadership team on the program and ask them to participate or publicly endorse it. When employees see their managers at a fundraiser kick-off or sitting in on a meditation session, it signals that participation is genuinely welcome.
Build Your Calendar Early
Mental Health Awareness Month is in May, but effective planning should start well in advance. Map out your full activity calendar at least 6–8 weeks ahead of time so you can book speakers, secure venues, communicate with employees, and allow enough lead time for any wellness benefits or EAP promotions you want to highlight.
Communicate Clearly and Often
Employees can’t participate in activities they don’t know about. Send calendar invites, post in your internal communications channels, and follow up with reminders as events approach. Make sure all communications reinforce that participation is optional and that the program is designed to support employees…not pressure them.
Collect Feedback
After each activity, gather anonymous feedback from participants. Send a short survey asking what worked, what didn’t, and what employees would like to see next. This process empowers HR to improve the program over time. It also signals to employees that their experience matters.
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.