Name: Mental Health Awareness Week 2023
Start: 2023-05-15
End: 2023-05-21
Location: Mental Health Awareness Week 2023

Mental Health Awareness Week 2024 will take place 13 to 19 May. Save the date!

The theme of Mental Health Awareness Week 2023 was anxiety.

Anxiety is a normal emotion in us all, but sometimes it can get out of control and become a mental health problem.

Lots of things can lead to feelings of anxiety, including exam pressures, relationships, starting a new job (or losing one) or other big life events. We can also get anxious when it comes to things to do with money and not being able to meet our basic needs, like heating our home or buying food. But anxiety can be made easier to manage.

Focusing on anxiety for this year's Mental Health Awareness Week will increase people's awareness and understanding of anxiety by providing information on the things that can help prevent it from becoming a problem. At the same time, we are keeping up the pressure to demand change - making sure that improving mental health is a key priority for the government and society as a whole.

Why was anxiety chosen as the theme for 2023?

Understanding and coping with anxiety

Uncertain times: Anxiety in the UK and how to tackle it

Read our in-depth look at anxiety in the UK. Based on a survey of 6,000 UK adults, the report examines what anxiety is, who’s experiencing it in the UK, how we’re coping and the things we can do to help to manage those feelings.

Read the report

What can we do to cope with feelings of anxiety?

There are lots of things which we can do to help manage feelings of anxiety, and what works will be different for everyone. We’ve got nine evidence-based things you can try to help manage feelings of anxiety.

Read the article

Visit our 'get help' page to find out more about the support available to you.

Anxiety UK

Anxiety UK was established in 1970 and is run by and for those with anxiety, offering an extensive range of support services designed to help support those affected by anxiety disorders, anxiety and anxiety-based depression.

Services available include:

Helpline services - open from 9:30am to 17:30pm Mon to Friday, along with our text service 07537 416905 and ‘Ask Anxia’ chatbot service, available 24/7 for all anxiety queries at anxietyuk.org.uk. See Helpline services for more information.

We offer fast access to a range of psychological therapy services, including counselling, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), clinical hypnotherapy & Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, with appointments available in person, online and by telephone. See Therapy services for more information.

We also run a range of courses and groups including our popular Art for Anxiety Relief (AfAR) course, anxiety management courses, and online peer-led anxiety support groups. See Support Groups for more information.

Support Mental Health Awareness Week

Mental Health Awareness Week is an ideal time for us all to think about mental health, tackle stigma, and find out how we can create a society that prevents mental health problems from developing and protects our mental well-being. But we can't do it without you!

Order a green ribbon

The green ribbon is the international symbol of mental health awareness. Order your green ribbon to raise awareness and support good mental health for all, throughout the year.

Order your ribbon today

Make a donation

We rely on donations from our supporters to continue our work for good mental health, including running Mental Health Awareness Week each year.

Support our work

Sports challenges

Take part in a run, cycle, trek or skydive to raise money for us. We can’t wait to welcome you to the Mental Health Foundation team!

View our events

Wear it Green Day

It’s time to go green for mental health. We’re calling on you to go green and raise money for mental health by running your own Wear it Green Day event.

Find out more about Wear it Green Day