Mental Health Awareness Week: Taking Action to Support Good Mental Health
Mental health affects every community, workplace, and individual in some capacity, and Mental Health Awareness Week provides an important opportunity to reflect on the ways we can all help support positive mental wellbeing.
This year’s theme, “Taking action to support good mental health,” highlights the importance of creating supportive environments, improving access to help, and ensuring people feel listened to and understood. At M·E·L Research, this is reflected both in how we support our team and in the research and evaluation work we deliver with organisations across the UK.
Supporting Mental Health Within Our Team
We recognise that supporting good mental health starts internally with our people, so we are committed to creating a positive and supportive workplace culture where wellbeing is prioritised and colleagues feel able to thrive both professionally and personally.
We support our team in a number of ways, including:
Mental and Physical Health Support
The wellbeing of our team is paramount. We have trained in-house Mental Health First Aiders who provide an additional layer of support within the organisation. Alongside this, we offer a comprehensive healthcare package that includes access to subsidised counselling services, a 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme, online GP appointments, and gym discounts, recognising the close connection between physical and mental wellbeing and helping colleagues access support when they need it.
Flexible Working Arrangements
We understand that everyone’s circumstances are different. Our flexible working arrangements are designed around the needs of employees, including family commitments, childcare responsibilities, and work-life balance. By enabling flexibility, we aim to support healthier and more sustainable ways of working.
Mental Health Awareness Training
As part of our wider commitment to mental health awareness, our entire team has undertaken mental health awareness training. This training helps colleagues to better understand mental health, recognise when someone may need support, and foster a workplace culture built on empathy and understanding.
Suicide Awareness Training
New starters at M·E·L Research complete suicide awareness training as part of their onboarding process. This training equips colleagues with the knowledge and confidence to recognise signs of distress and understand how they can respond appropriately and supportively.
Supporting Clients Through Mental Health Research and Evaluation
Alongside our internal commitment to wellbeing, we are proud to work with organisations across the public and voluntary sectors on projects focused on mental health, suicide prevention, emotional wellbeing, and support services.
Our work helps organisations understand lived experiences, evaluate impact, and develop evidence-based approaches to improving outcomes.
Help for Heroes: Veterans and Family Survey
We supported Help for Heroes as part of the charity’s LiveWell2032 strategy, which sets out a ten-year vision to ensure members of the Armed Forces community can live well after service.
The research explored a range of sensitive topics, including physical and mental health conditions, disability, transition from military service, preparedness for civilian life, and wider wellbeing experiences. The findings contribute to helping shape future support for veterans and their families.
Click to read more about the project.
Barnardo’s: Evaluation of Children’s Mental Health Service
Barnardo’s commissioned M·E·L Research to undertake an independent evaluation of the Children that We Care For Mental Health and Wellbeing pilot service in Sandwell.
Delivered in partnership with Sandwell Children’s Trust, the service aimed to address gaps in emotional and mental health support for cared-for children and care-experienced young people. Our evaluation explored how the service was delivered, the experiences of participants, and the impact it had on those receiving support.
Click to read more about the project.
Mind’s Big Mental Health Survey 2025 and 2026
We were commissioned by Mind to deliver the Big Mental Health Survey for 2025 and 2026, a major study examining how people across England and Wales experience and access mental health support.
The survey explores support accessed through primary care, voluntary and community organisations, and digital platforms. As the first large-scale survey of its kind since 2019, the research provides valuable insight into how effectively people are supported when they seek help for mental health problems.
The 2026 Big Mental Health Survey is still live. If you live in England or Wales and have accessed mental health support (or attempted to access), you can take the survey, here: https://survey.euro.confirmit.com/wix/2/p500382509542.aspx
Click to read more about the project.
Royal British Legion: Independent Evaluation of the Invictus Games 2025
We carried out an independent evaluation of the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 for Royal British Legion.
The Games brought together more than 500 wounded, injured and sick serving personnel and veterans from 20 nations to compete in adaptive sports. The evaluation explored the experiences and impact of the Games for competitors and the wider Armed Forces community, helping to understand the role the event plays in supporting recovery, wellbeing, resilience, and connection.
Click to read more about the project.
Samaritans: Online Harm Prevention
We worked with Samaritans on research exploring responses to messaging related to self-harm and suicide found across social media platforms and online forums.
Samaritans commissioned the research as part of their wider work to prevent suicide and support people experiencing mental health challenges. The project explored how people engage with existing online content and messaging, helping to provide insight into how harmful content is encountered and understood in digital spaces, and how online harm prevention approaches can be strengthened.
Click to read more about the project.
Birmingham Better Mental Health Fund Evaluation
To support Birmingham City Council, M·E·L Research carried out an independent evaluation of the Better Mental Health Fund.
The evaluation explored how projects engaged with communities across Birmingham, the experiences of participants, and the differences in impact across groups of people. It also examined the opportunities created through funding and assessed value for money to help inform future investment and support.
Click to read more about the project.
Molly Rose Foundation
We are currently working with the Molly Rose Foundation on the second wave of a major study examining how children and young people encounter harmful content online.
The research focuses specifically on exposure to content relating to suicide, self-harm, depression, and eating disorders. The project provides important insight into how patterns of exposure are evolving and contributes to wider conversations around online safety and mental health.
Click to read more about the project.
The M·E·L Research SPARK Report
The SPARK Report is one of our key contributions to suicide prevention research and public understanding.
The report tracks suicide attempts, suicidal thoughts, and public attitudes towards mental health and suicide across the UK. Conducted twice a year, the research aims to identify emerging trends, inform policy and prevention strategies, and increase public awareness about the importance of mental health support and suicide prevention.
By generating timely and robust evidence, the SPARK Report supports policymakers, mental health organisations, and stakeholders working to improve outcomes and save lives.
Click to read more about the SPARK Report.
Supporting Mental Health in Our Communities
Alongside supporting our colleagues and clients, M·E·L Research is also committed to supporting organisations working within our local communities.
As part of this commitment, we donate 5% of our annual net profit each year to a chosen charity. In 2024/25, we continued our partnership with Birmingham-based organisation Narthex – who support thousands of people in need or crisis across the city – contributing £4,038.25 to support their work with people experiencing poverty, homelessness, crisis, and social exclusion across the city.
In the previous year, our chosen charity partner was Birmingham Mind, supporting their work to improve mental health and wellbeing across local communities.
We recognise the important role that charities and community organisations play in providing support, connection, and practical help to those who need it most, and we are proud to support their work through our ongoing contributions.
Supporting Your Mental Health
While organisations, workplaces, and services all play an important role in supporting mental wellbeing, there are also simple everyday actions that individuals can take to support their own mental health.
The Mental Health Foundation highlights 10 practical ways people can support their wellbeing, including:
- Planning something to look forward to: Having plans or positive experiences ahead, even small ones, can help boost motivation and provide a sense of hope and enjoyment.
- Eating a healthy, balanced diet: Eating well supports both physical and mental wellbeing by helping maintain energy levels, concentration, and mood.
- Spending time outdoors and in nature: Being outside and connecting with nature is proven to reduce stress, boost mood, and provide a sense of calm.
- Staying active and moving regularly: Regular movement and exercise can improve mental wellbeing by helping reduce anxiety and stress while boosting confidence and energy.
- Connecting with friends, family, and other support networks: Spending time with supportive people can help reduce feelings of loneliness and remind us that we do not have to cope alone.
- Getting enough sleep and rest: Good quality sleep is important for managing emotions, coping with stress, and supporting overall mental health.
- Being kind to yourself and others: Showing compassion to yourself and those around you can help build stronger relationships and encourage positive self-esteem.
- Taking breaks when feeling overwhelmed: Stepping away from stressful situations, even briefly, can help clear your mind and prevent feelings of burnout or exhaustion.
- Trying something creative or learning something new: Creative activities and learning new skills can help improve confidence, provide a sense of achievement, and support emotional wellbeing.
- Asking for help and support when needed: Reaching out for support is an important step and can help people feel listened to, understood, and better supported through difficult times. At the end of this article, you will find a list of services you can reach out to if you need support with your mental health.
Taking action does not always mean making major changes. Small, consistent steps can have a meaningful impact over time, whether that is taking time away from screens, going for a walk, checking in with someone, or setting aside time to rest and recharge.
Continuing to Take Action
Mental Health Awareness Week provides an opportunity to recognise the importance of creating supportive environments, improving access to help, and listening to people’s experiences.
At M·E·L Research, we are proud to support this work through both our workplace culture and the research and evaluation projects we deliver with organisations across the UK. By helping generate evidence, insight, and understanding, we hope to contribute to services and initiatives that make a meaningful difference to people’s lives.
Do You Need Support?
If you or someone you care about is experiencing an emotional or mental health crisis needing immediate attention: Reach out to the person’s GP, the GP out-of-hours service, or call NHS on 111.
If you fear for your (or someone else’s) immediate safety: Guide them to the closest A&E or dial 999 for immediate assistance.
Free listening services:
Samaritans – Call 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org (24/7). Welsh line: 0808 164 0123 (24/7)
National Suicide Prevention Helpline UK – Call 0800 689 5652.
Papyrus HOPELINEUK – For under 35s or those worried about someone under 35: 0800 068 4141, pat@papyrus-uk.org, or text 07786 209 697 (24/7)
Campaign Against Living Miserably – Call 0800 58 58 58 or live chat (5pm – midnight daily)
‘Shout’ crisis text line – text SHOUT to 85258
If you have served or are currently serving in the UK Armed Forces, you can call Combat Stress’ 24-hour mental health helplines.
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