May is Mental Health Awareness Month.
Given that each year, millions of Americans face the reality of living with a mental illness, it’s an ideal time to bring the topic up in the workplace.
That’s why we’ve compiled this list of mental health awareness month activities your team will no doubt get a lot out of if they participate.
This post offers 30 simple — yet effective — ways to bring mental health awareness into the workplace to destigmatize the issue and encourage workers to get the help they may need.
What Are Mental Health Awareness Activities?
Mental health awareness activities bring light and positivity into the workplace. They’re designed to educate, inspire, and open up conversations about mental health. The goal? To create a supportive and understanding environment where everyone feels empowered to thrive.
Mental health impacts how we think, feel, and handle life’s ups and downs — it’s like an inner compass guiding us through challenges and changes.
Raising awareness about mental health means breaking the silence and creating space for open, honest conversations. By sharing, we build connection and understanding, helping to break down the stigma that often surrounds mental health.
These activities can include engaging workshops, mindfulness practices, team-building events, and sharing valuable resources—all aimed at fostering a culture of care and support.
The Importance of Mental Health in the Workplace
Why does mental health matter at work? Because happy, healthy employees are the heart of any successful business.
Here’s why it’s so important:
- It’s personal. Mental health affects how employees feel, perform, and interact with others.
- It’s cultural. A workplace that supports mental health builds trust, morale, and inclusivity.
- It’s impactful. Good mental health means lower stress, better focus, and higher productivity.
Some eye-opening facts:
- 15% of adults globally live with mental health disorders (WHO).
- Depression and anxiety cost the world’s economy $1 trillion annually in lost productivity.
- Poor mental health drives up absenteeism, presenteeism, and turnover rates.
The good news? Prioritizing mental health pays off!
- Happier employees = higher engagement and job satisfaction.
- Supportive workplaces see lower healthcare costs and better retention rates.
- You’ll create a culture that’s healthier, more inclusive, and ready to thrive.
30 Mental Health Awareness Month Activities for the Workplace
1. Host a Stress Reduction Workshop
Stress hormones trigger the body’s “fight or flight response,” which when left untreated can cause chronic physical and emotional issues. Stress can trigger health woes that include everything from headaches to heartburn and insomnia to irritability. Consider having your benefits director host a stress-reducing activity workshop this month. Your staff will benefit from knowing there are healthy ways to handle stress!
2. Create an Interactive Bulletin Board
Bulletin boards in the workplace don’t need to be boring. Get creative with your hallway bulletins by turning them into an engaging Mental Health Awareness Month activity. You can print resources, add fact sheets, and inspirational quotes to the boards. Additionally, you can pose questions that require employees to write their thoughts right on the board. Some ideas of questions to include: “What made you smile today?” or “What are you grateful for?” or “What’s your favorite activity to blow off steam?”
3. Get Physical
Host a karate instructor to come on site for the day. Throughout the day, have the instructor offer mini lessons for individuals and/or group classes. Physical sports like karate can build confidence and strength, along with a new exercise routine. If they can, see if the instructor will supply small wood boards for a “breaking boards event” that can easily be a confidence training exercise for your team members.
4. Have a Well-Being Day
Host a day dedicated to well-being activities and exploration. You can keep it as simple as a mini wellness benefits review with a light breakfast and equally light workday. Or, have a variety of well-being stations set-up for your staff. A hydration station with fruit-infused water, a coloring book station, a quiet meditation area, and an area for stretching are all easy ideas for a simple yet refreshing well-being day.
5. Create a Different Kind of Escape Room
Break rooms are a must for escaping work. Aside from your typical kitchen break room setup, consider making a different kind of escape room for employees. Add meditation pillows, bean bags, a diffuser, etc. in a space where employees can go for a restorative moment of quiet. Reflection and meditation are perfect Mental Health Awareness Month activities that can bring peace in as little as a few minutes.
6. Host a Tea/Coffee Event
Bring a mental health advocate in for a morning tea or coffee event. Host a healthy breakfast and invite your staff to come in and listen to a local psychologist or mental health professional. They can host a Q-and-A session about stress, anxiety, or any number of mental health topics. Or, ask for a specific theme to be covered like stress management techniques or anxiety-reducing activities.
7. Have an Outdoor Event Day
Research proves that outdoor green spaces are good for mental health. Those who spend time outdoors will find they have reduced stress, anxiety, and depression. On a Friday, consider hosting a special event like an outdoor field day. Set up a variety of team-building activities— like hula hoop contests, egg races, and water balloon tosses — to generate laughs and encourage physical movement.
8. Discuss Mental Health
Mental health discussions aren’t only reserved for therapy offices. When leadership asks questions beyond, “Hi, how are you?” it starts a different dialogue. Questions like, “How are you feeling today?” or “How have you been spending your time?” are great ways to open up windows to mental health discussions.
If you’re still feeling resistance from your employees to have open mental health discussions, share the Empower Work resource. It provides confidential and immediate support for work challenges via web chat or texting. Best of all, it’s free!
9. Share Screening Tools
Employees can’t get the appropriate professional help if they don’t know they have a problem. Consider sharing mental health screening tools via email, bulletin boards, and team meetings to actively promote mental health awareness. Mental Health America has a series of free mental health tests that can be taken confidentially.
10. Schedule an On-Site Yoga Day
Yoga not only stretches the body, but it can also stretch the mind. Consider bringing in a local yoga teacher for a class on deep breathing and yoga. Your employees will learn how to quiet their minds while also moving their body during this favored wellness activity.
11. Have a Paint Party
Gather your team together for a relaxed, low-key event that also serves as a Mental Health Awareness Month activity. You can opt to host it on a Friday evening after work as a way to wrap up the work week. Or, set up a designated paint “studio” where individuals can drop by any time during the week to relieve stress as they paint. This artistic activity doesn’t have to be just for serious artists, either. It’s a simple way to encourage employees to emotionally release stress. Share pamphlets during the event on ways to reduce stress and other worries in healthy ways.
12. Gratitude Challenge
A regular gratitude practice is shown to improve optimism and improve mood. Those who do it on a consistent basis tend to feel better overall. Ask your employees to take part in a gratitude challenge. This can be as simple as journaling about three things they’re grateful for each evening. Or, you can have a virtual or in-person bulletin board where individuals leave anonymous notes of what they’re grateful for.
13. Wellness Gift Exchange
A wellness gift exchange is a great opportunity to actively involve your employees in a wellness event. Ask your team members to purchase a small gift (under a certain dollar amount) that can help mental health. You can set it up like a Secret Santa gift exchange. Or, have individuals wrap the gifts without tags and place them on a table. Anyone who participates can stop by throughout a designated day to pick up their gift. Ideas for gifts may include stress balls, stress “play dough,” self-help books, a candle, a spa gift set, etc.
14. Create a Coloring Area
Coloring is a peaceful way to sit and observe thoughts quietly without judgment. By setting up a quiet area with coloring books, it allows employees to escape for a break and practice mindfulness in a non-traditional way.
15. DIY Workshop
Crafting is shown to reduce depression, anxiety, and increase happiness. For a fun and lighthearted Mental Health Awareness Month activity, consider hosting a series of DIY workshops. Anything from making soap and bath bombs to wood carving or painting makes for a great team activity that also works wonders for mental health. Your employees can meet up at a local craft studio or your company can hire a local artisan to teach a workshop, depending on your budget.
16. Have a Massage Day
Massage is proven to reduce both physical and emotional stress, so why not host a massage day in the workplace? Local massage school students always need to clock hours to receive their certification and/or license. Call a local massage school to see if your company can host students for a massage day. Many have chairs they can set up outside, too, for proper social distancing. If you have a remote team, consider sending them gift vouchers to visit a local massage therapist for a stress-reducing activity.
17. Stop and Smell the Roses
Outdoor time is good for physical and emotional health, research shows. Consider planning a day to spend outside working on your company garden or a local community garden. Gardening is shown to elevate serotonin levels in the brain, which increases happiness overall.
Check out our post to Start a Community Garden with Your Employee Wellness Program!
18. Giveaway Wellness Items
A fun Mental Health Awareness Month activity for employers and employees alike includes giveaways. Throughout the month, randomly surprise your employees with useful wellness items. When your employees take care of their well-being, their mental health benefits. Giveaway items like subscriptions to meditation apps, positive self-help books or magazines, or even a spa getaway, if your budget allows.
19. Host Well-Being Mondays
Help your team take charge of their work week — and that “Case of the Mondays” — by seizing the day right off the bat. Whether your team is remote or in-house, offering self-help techniques can help improve morale and workplace attitudes. Topics to consider may include: Stress management techniques, stress-relieving activities, confidence builders, energy boosters, and positive self-talk.
20. Promote Random Acts of Kindness
Research shows that doing a kind act for another person is beneficial to mental health. Not only does it provide a momentary happiness boost to the person receiving it, the person showing kindness also benefits. Showing kindness — whether it’s by helping out on a project or opening a door for someone — can boost optimistic feelings, confidence, and happiness. It may also have a domino effect that encourages others to show kindness, too.
21. Hold a Community Dance Party
Dancing is known to elevate not only mood, but also heart rate. Both activities can improve overall health by lessening depression and the risk of other health issues. Consider hosting an outdoor community dance party at a local park for your team and community. Dancers can pay a donation with proceeds given to a local mental health organization. It’s also a way to boost social health, another mental health improvement opportunity!
22. Organize a Mental Health-Themed Trivia Contest
Bring some fun to your workplace while raising awareness about mental health. Host a trivia contest with questions about stress management, mental health statistics, self-care techniques, and workplace wellness strategies. You can create teams for some friendly competition and offer small prizes to keep things exciting. This activity not only engages employees but also educates them on important mental health topics in an interactive way.
23. Create a Playlist of Relaxing or Uplifting Music
Music has the power to set the mood and enhance well-being. Encourage employees to contribute songs to a workplace playlist filled with relaxing or energizing tracks. Play it during work hours, breaks, or meetings to help create a calming or motivating atmosphere. You can also create different playlists for various moods — one for stress relief, one for focus, and another for boosting energy.
24. Bake Yellow-Themed Treats for #HelloYellow Campaigns
The color yellow is often associated with happiness and positivity. Join the #HelloYellow movement by baking and sharing yellow-themed treats like lemon bars, banana bread, or frosted sugar cookies. This activity is a great way to bring employees together, spark conversations about mental health, and even raise funds for mental health charities by organizing a bake sale.
25. Host a Virtual Fitness Class for Remote Employees
Physical movement plays a key role in mental well-being, but remote employees may not have as many opportunities to stay active. Host a virtual fitness class, such as yoga, stretching, or a short high-energy workout, to get everyone moving. Offering these sessions during lunch breaks or at the start of the day can help employees feel more energized and connected, no matter where they’re working from.
26. Start a Peer Support or Mentoring Program
Feeling connected to coworkers can significantly impact mental well-being. Establish a peer support or mentoring program where employees can meet regularly to share experiences, offer guidance, or simply be a listening ear. This can be structured as an official mentorship initiative or a more informal buddy system that fosters camaraderie and emotional support within the workplace.
27. Offer Manager Training on Mental Health First Aid
Leaders play a crucial role in shaping workplace culture. Providing mental health first aid training for managers equips them with the knowledge to recognize signs of distress, offer support, and direct employees to appropriate resources. When managers feel confident addressing mental health concerns, employees are more likely to seek help and feel supported.
28. Launch a Workplace Fitness Challenge
Encourage employees to stay active with a friendly fitness challenge. Whether it’s a step challenge, movement minutes tracker, or a team-based competition, physical activity can help reduce stress, boost mood, and increase overall well-being. Consider offering incentives, such as wellness-related prizes or donations to a mental health charity, to keep employees motivated.
29. Hold a Photo Contest Focused on Well-Being
Encourage employees to capture and share moments that represent mental well-being—whether it’s a peaceful outdoor walk, a cozy self-care setup, or a joyful moment with family or pets. Display the submissions in a shared space (digital or physical) and celebrate the most creative or inspiring photos. This activity promotes mindfulness and encourages employees to take notice of small moments of joy in their lives.
30. Provide Return-to-Work Programs for Mental Health Recovery
Returning to work after mental health leave can be challenging. Establishing a structured return-to-work program can help ease the transition. This could include flexible scheduling, check-ins with a supportive manager, or access to resources like counseling or wellness programs. By normalizing mental health recovery, employers can foster a culture where employees feel safe seeking help when needed.
Tips for Implementing Mental Health Activities
Introducing mental health activities in the workplace is a great step toward fostering a supportive and open culture. To make these initiatives truly impactful, consider these best practices:
1. Make Events Accessible, Inclusive, and Diverse
Mental health looks different for everyone, so it's important to offer a range of activities that suit different needs. Consider offering virtual and in-person options, providing accommodations for employees with disabilities, and ensuring a mix of activities that appeal to diverse interests and backgrounds.
2. Involve Leadership to Model Participation
When leaders actively participate in mental health initiatives, employees are more likely to engage. Encourage executives and managers to join activities, share their own well-being practices, and support open conversations about mental health.
3. Use TotalWellness Resources for Guidance and Promotion
Don’t reinvent the wheel — TotalWellness provides valuable resources to help organizations implement and promote mental health activities effectively. Use these tools to build awareness, educate employees, and streamline your wellness efforts.
4. Gather Employee Feedback to Tailor Initiatives
The best programs reflect the needs of the people they serve. Gather feedback through surveys, suggestion boxes, or one-on-one conversations to understand what employees want and need. Use this input to shape future initiatives and keep them relevant.
5. Integrate Mental Health into Existing Wellness Programs
Rather than treating mental health as a separate initiative, weave it into existing wellness programs. Combine stress management workshops with fitness challenges, add mindfulness exercises to wellness check-ins, or offer mental health days alongside physical health benefits.
6. Partner with Mental Health Experts for Professional Support
Bringing in licensed professionals — such as therapists, counselors, or mental health educators — can add credibility and depth to your initiatives. They can lead workshops, answer employee questions, and provide expert guidance on sensitive topics.
7. Provide Incentives for Participation
Encouraging participation through small incentives can boost engagement. Offer rewards such as gift cards, wellness-related prizes, or even extra time off to those who take part in mental health activities. Recognition goes a long way in fostering enthusiasm.
8. Create Safe Spaces for Feedback and Support
Employees should feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and experiences without fear of judgment. Designate safe spaces — both physical and virtual — where employees can access resources, seek peer support, or provide anonymous feedback on workplace well-being.
9. Follow Up After Events to Sustain Engagement
Mental health awareness shouldn’t be a one-time effort. After hosting an event or launching an initiative, check in with employees to see what worked, what could be improved, and how to keep the momentum going. Regular follow-ups help reinforce a culture of continuous support and well-being.
By implementing these strategies, companies can create a workplace where mental health is prioritized, employees feel supported, and wellness efforts lead to lasting change.
Don’t Be Shy About Mental Health at Work
If you want your employees to be healthy, it’s important to remember that mental health is a part of their overall well-being.
Mental health includes emotional, psychological, and social well-being, meaning it impacts multiple areas of one’s life. It also impacts how individuals feel, think, act, and relate to others.
When mental health awareness is brought into the spotlight with lighthearted yet intentional activities, it can have a profound impact on your staff. This list is only a starting point. Ask your staff how your company can better cover mental health in the workplace. Their responses are always the ones that will count the most.
Share The Power of Positivity at Work with our free guide! Check it out here.
Editors Note: This post was updated in February 2025 for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.
