Mental Health Awareness Week
- Healthwatch Hampshire
- May 13
- 3 min read
Updated: May 14
11-17 May 2026 is Mental Health Awareness Week. Our blog looks at what good mental health looks like, common mental health issues, and where to get support.
What is positive mental health?
The World Health Organisation defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”. Good mental health is essential to overall wellness and happiness. Positive mental health enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community (i).
What does good mental health look like?
Someone with positive mental health can (ii)
Experience, express, and regulate a range of emotions
Deal with and recover from challenging situations
Deal with uncertainty and change in a healthy way
Work towards achieving goals and realizing true potential
Build and maintain meaningful, healthy relationships
Be aware of their emotions and mood fluctuations
Set healthy personal boundaries
Practice self-love and self-care
Contribute to the community and feel a sense of belonging with others.
There are things that can make life difficult for all of us; financial worries, family stresses, and problems at work are a few examples. Most people will struggle with their mental health at some point in their life.
This might be triggered by an event, such as death of a loved one, losing a job, divorce or any other significant life change. This is a normal response to a stressful situation. However, some people will find dealing with everyday life difficult, and this can be indicative of a mental health issue.
How common are mental health issues?
Mental health charity Mind say 1 in 4 adults in England will experience a mental health problem each year. About 1 in 5 children and young people aged 8 to 25 will experience a mental health problem each year.
Some of the common mental health diagnoses in England include (iii)
Generalised anxiety disorder: 8 in 100 people diagnosed in any given week
Post-traumatic stress disorder: 6 in 100 people diagnosed in any given week
Depression: 4 in 100 people diagnosed in any given week
Phobias: 3 in 100 people diagnosed in any given week
Obsessive-compulsive disorder: 2 in 100 people diagnosed in any given week
Panic disorder: 1 in 100 people diagnosed in any given week
Are certain groups more vulnerable to mental health problems?
Research shows that some people are more likely to experience poor general health, and this includes mental health. ‘Inclusion health’ is a term used by the NHS to describe people who are socially excluded and who typically experience multiple overlapping risk factors for poor health (such as poverty, violence and trauma).
This includes (iv):
People experiencing homelessness
People with drug or alcohol dependence
Vulnerable migrants
Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities
Sex workers
People in contact with the justice system
Victims of modern slavery
There are many factors that result in health inequalities, including mental health. People living in the most deprived areas of England are 64% more likely to experience a common mental disorder than those in the least deprived (v).
Core20PLUS5 is a national NHS England initiative designed to support the reduction of health inequalities, with mental health being one of the 5 focus areas requiring accelerated improvement (vi.)
Tips for improving mental health
There are lots of things we can do to improve mental health. Getting outside, eating well, getting enough sleep and taking time for hobbies are all positive steps. There is lots of information available that can help you make positive changes:
Getting help for mental health
There are many organisations that can support us all when we are struggling. For more information, please visit:
References
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