This is a week dedicated to reflecting, socialising and making time for yourself.
Are you lonely? The statistics reveal that you certainly wouldn’t be alone in this, with around 23% of people reporting that they feel lonely often, always or some the time.
That said, the conversation around mental health is increasingly — and rightfully so — becoming destigmatised.
Mental Health Awareness Week 2026 runs from 11-17 May. It’s an annual campaign led by the Mental Health Foundation to spotlight mental wellbeing and promote open conversations.
Whether you’re hosting your own ‘Big Brunch’ for Mind or taking part in the range of events below, there are numerous ways to support your own mental health along with others’ this week.
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Get tickets to Soul x Science
This event is dedicated to health and wellbeing, and mental health is an integral building block of this. This one-day event is dedicated to panels exploring the world of wellness and wellbeing, from ‘Remaining human in the age of AI’ to ‘Rethinking our relationship with food in a health-obsessed world.’
As for workshops, expect a variety of forward-thinking breathwork and body-mapping sessions along with other experiences in the darkness room to calm your nervous system, all only moments away from Oxford Street.
Book tickets at Soul x Science
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Attend a film screening
A collection of filmmakers living with mental health conditions have come together to create a series of short biographical films exploring the theme of mental health.
The five films will be screened — around one hour of films altogether — at Haringey Community Cinema, followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers, offering the opportunity for open and honest conversation.
Join a film club
North Kensington Library is hosting a dedicated Mental Health Awareness Week film club. It’s free to attend and a great low-key way to engage with mental health themes through storytelling — all while socialising, too.
For Mental Health Awareness Week, there’ll be a screening of All of Us Strangers, inspired by Taichi Yamada’s novel.
The film club also leaves time afterwards for a conversation, so it’s a great place to connect with those who have the same interests.
This is a free initiative, but tickets should be booked in advance.
Read more: Why you should start journalling
Put pen to paper at a journalling workshop
To aid better mental health, journalling can be as a practical reflection and self-regulation tool.
There are journalling workshops across the city which can be found on meetup and Eventbrite. Or why not get a group of friends together yourself?
Discover the workshops near you
Feature image: Soul x Science
