We celebrated Mental Health Awareness Week in 2020 with a week of kindness sharing different themes and resources each day on social media. Our campaign went viral with people all over the UK sharing their experiences of kindness during what have been difficult and uncertain times.
MindWell Week of Kindness – 7 days, 7 themes
Be kind to your mind
Be kind to your body
Talk kindly to yourself
Spread kindness
Be kind and generous to others
Be kind to the world
Be kind every day
Our theme for the last day, ‘Be kind every day’, asks us all to think about how we can take forward different experiences of kindness into our future lives. We’ve all seen the power of kindness spreading across our streets, city and organisations, as well as nationally and globally. The pandemic has given people the chance to show compassion and community spirit in ways we’ve not experienced on such a large scale for a long time.
Download our MindWell Week of Kindness Planner to help you, your group, household or work team start thinking about how you can get involved. You can use our Week of Kindness Planner (blank version) to write down your own ideas and intentions. We want the spirit of kindness to continue. From positive self-talk and improving our self-care to being kind online and clapping for carers, there’s lots we can do to be kind to ourselves and to the people and world around us.
MindWell Week of Kindness Planner
MindWell Week of Kindness Planner (blank version)
Mental Health Awareness Week is an annual event, hosted by the Mental Health Foundation (MHF). Mark Rowland, the chief executive, made a decision to change the planned theme in 2020, in response to the coronavirus outbreak, when he was moved by an act of kindness from a supermarket staff member who brought umbrellas for people queueing in the rain. As the MHF says:
“…kindness is an antidote to isolation and creates a sense of belonging. It helps reduce stress, brings a fresh perspective and deepens friendships. Kindness to ourselves can prevent shame from corroding our sense of identity and help boost our self-esteem. Kindness can even improve feelings of confidence and optimism.”
Kindness is good for our mental health, physical health, families, workplaces and city. So let’s keep on being kind.