Mental Health At Work: 7 Creative Ideas for Mental Health Awareness Month

Mental Health Awareness Month is the perfect opportunity to go beyond posters and emails—and start creating real change in how your workplace supports well-being. Whether your team works on laptops or factory floors, every employee deserves to feel safe, seen, and supported. In this post, you'll find 7 creative and practical ideas to make mental health a visible, ongoing part of your culture. Let’s make Mental Health Month matter!

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1. Create a Mental Wellness Wall

Invite employees to write down one small action they’re taking for their mental health on sticky notes, and add them to a communal wall or digital board. It’s a visual way to celebrate small steps and inspire each other.

2. Mental Health Playlist Exchange

Ask team members to share songs that boost their mood, calm them down, or help them focus. Compile it into a company-wide shared playlist. Music is a powerful, personal connector.

3. ‘Permission Slips’ for Self-Care

Distribute fun “permission slips” employees can give themselves, like:

“Permission to log off on time today.”
“Permission to take a walk mid-morning.”
“Permission to say no.”

This gently encourages boundaries and normalizes rest.

4. Host a “Real Talk” Series

Bring in speakers (you might know someone!) for casual, judgment-free chats about stress, burnout, boundaries, or the myths around self-care. Keep it short and impactful—like lunch & learns or coffee chats.

Alternatively, find mental health champions within your workplace and host a panel or fireside chat where people share their stories with others. It can have a huge impact!

5. Set a “No-Meeting” Morning or Day

Give people uninterrupted time to focus, recharge, or take an actual lunch break. One small change, big ripple effect.

6.Team Pulse Check

In your morning meetings, weekly meeting or staff meeting this month, take a quick "pulse check" (hint: this is something you could incorporate regularly).

How’s your energy?
What’s one thing we can do to support your well-being this month?
What does a mentally healthy workplace look like to you?

This shows care and gives you real-time insight.

7.Curated Mental Health Toolkit

Share a virtual or physical toolkit with resources like:

Crisis support numbers
Your workplace EAP numbers or counseling service contact information (if you don't have this, share community resources for your local community).
Journaling pages
Short meditations
Mini boundary-setting scripts

It shows you’re not just “talking the talk”—you’re providing tools, too.

Which of these ideas will you try first? Share this post with your team—let’s keep the conversation going. Because mental health at work is everyone’s business.

If you're ready to make lasting changes in your workplace culture, learn how we can support you in creating a healthier workplace—or reach out for a custom plan that fits your team's needs.

Mental Health Awareness Month: Upcoming Events

May 2, 2025 - Live in Toronto at Care/Of Experiences

A special burnout prevention leadership training day + networking event + chef prepared lunch on-site to kick off Mental Health Awareness Month. If you work in the GTA, you won't want to miss this one!

Learn more and sign up here: https://lu.ma/k08d1gk7

May 21, 2025 - Supporting Anxiety in the Workplace (Virtual Event) How to Recognize, Talk About, and Reduce Anxiety at Work

Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health conditions affecting adults in North America. Join Alison and special guest expert Christine Rossi-Wright for live virtual training on May 21, 2025.

Learn more and sign up here: https://www.alisonbutler.ca/anxiety

Burnout To Boundaries™ Virtual Course

An online course focused on supporting you to prevent burnout. You'll create a personalized plan to get clear on your essentials (priorities), create better boundaries (at work, at home and with your technology), say NO (or not right now) & build personal resilience.

Learn more and sign up here: http://www.burnouttoboundaries.com

Doors close on May 20.

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Hi, I'm Alison and welcome to the blog.

I have been a speaker and trainer for 20 years. I offer Mental Health First Aid in Canada and work with workplaces to improve mental wellbeing and psychological safety and reduce stress and burnout.

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