Mental Health Awareness Week runs from 11 to 17 May and this year’s theme is asking people to join in taking action to support good mental health. Even small actions can help us feel hopeful and less powerless. While our individual actions matter, when we come together, we are even more powerful.
Joanne Thomas – Usdaw general secretary says: “Usdaw has long recognised that mental health is a trade union and workplace issue. Members experiencing problems with their mental health might be struggling at work, there could be concerns over their performance, attendance, certain aspects of their jobs or the workplace might be making their mental health worse.
“Mental Health Awareness Week gives us another opportunity to remind members that Usdaw is here to help. Our reps support members every day of the year by helping them resolve workplace problems and signposting to extra support or information where the issue goes beyond the workplace.
“This campaign week is an important event that reaches millions of people and highlights the link between talking about mental health, seeking support and recovery. Usdaw supports the work of mental health organisations and pays credit to every lay rep for all they do to support our members.”
Notes for editors:
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is one of the fastest growing unions in the TUC and the UK's fifth biggest with around 370,000 members. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also represents many workers in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemical industry and other trades www.usdaw.org.uk
Usdaw’s ‘It’s good to talk’ campaign provides the union’s workplace reps with advice and resources to support members experiencing a common mental health problem such as depression or anxiety www.usdaw.org.uk/campaigns/mental-health-awareness/
Mental Health Awareness Week: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work/public-engagement/mental-health-awareness-week
For Usdaw press releases visit: www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Bluesky @usdawunion.bsky.social and Twitter/X @UsdawUnion