Mental Health Awareness Week 2026: Supporting mental health in every corner of our community

Every year, Mental Health Awareness Week encourages people across the UK to open conversations, reduce stigma, and recognise the importance of mental wellbeing. Mental health affects every aspect of our lives - how we think, feel, connect with others, and cope with everyday challenges. Yet for many people, accessing the right support can still feel difficult, expensive, or out of reach.

We believe mental health support should be accessible, compassionate, and rooted within the community. As a not-for-profit organisation, our mission is simple: to improve the health and wellbeing of people of all ages by providing meaningful support that creates long-term positive change.

This Mental Health Awareness Week, we are proud to reflect on the many ways we support individuals, families, schools, workplaces, and future professionals across our communities.

Support through social prescribing

Mental health is influenced by far more than just medical conditions. Financial worries, housing difficulties, loneliness, bereavement, and relationship struggles can all have a huge impact on emotional wellbeing. That is why our Ellesmere Port Social Prescribing Team takes a holistic approach to support.

Our social prescribing service helps individuals with non-medical needs that may be affecting their mental health and overall quality of life. Whether someone is experiencing social isolation, struggling with finances, dealing with housing concerns, or simply feeling overwhelmed, our team works closely with them to find practical solutions and emotional support.

We understand that sometimes people do not need medication - they need connection, guidance, and someone to listen.

Alongside this, our dedicated Mental Health Link Worker team supports patients registered with GP practices within the One Ellesmere Port PCN. Through this service, individuals can access free mental health support and guidance in partnership with local healthcare services and community network. This early intervention approach helps people receive support before challenges escalate further.

As part of our social prescribing work, we also deliver workshops focused on important life experiences and emotional wellbeing. Topics such as bereavement and relationships provide safe spaces for people to learn coping strategies, share experiences, and feel less alone in what they are going through.

Affordable counselling for everyone

At Healthbox CIC, we firmly believe that counselling should never be a luxury. Too often, people delay seeking help because private therapy feels financially impossible. We are passionate about removing that barrier.

Our affordable counselling service offers professional support at a lower fee of just £25 per session, alongside a free initial assessment. This allows more people to access the help they need without the fear of overwhelming costs.

Counselling can be life-changing. Having a safe, confidential space to talk openly can help people process trauma, manage anxiety, cope with depression, navigate relationships, and rebuild confidence. By keeping our service affordable, we aim to ensure that support is within reach for as many people as possible.

As a not-for-profit organisation, every penny made through our counselling service is reinvested directly back into community wellbeing initiatives. This includes funding children’s mental health support, community events, wellbeing workshops, and additional services that benefit local people.

When someone accesses support through Healthbox, they are not only helping themselves - they are also helping strengthen support for others within the community.

Helping children build confidence and resilience

Supporting mental health early in life is incredibly important. Many emotional challenges begin during childhood and adolescence, which is why preventative support and early intervention can make such a lasting difference.

Our schools programme delivers workshops designed to help children and young people develop confidence, self-esteem, resilience, and emotional awareness. These sessions create opportunities for honest conversations around feelings, friendships, pressure, and mental wellbeing in an engaging and supportive way.

In addition to workshops, our art therapists provide one-to-one support for children within schools. Creative therapies can be especially powerful for young people who struggle to express emotions verbally. Through art and creativity, children are able to process experiences, communicate feelings, and develop healthy coping strategies in a safe environment.

By supporting children early, we hope to empower the next generation with the emotional tools they need to thrive.

Supporting workplace wellbeing this Mental Health Awareness Week 2026

Mental health support should not stop when people enter the workplace. Stress, burnout, workplace conflict, and poor work-life balance can all significantly affect employee wellbeing and productivity.

Through our Thrive business support packages, we help organisations create healthier and more supportive workplaces. Our services include counselling for staff, management support for handling difficult situations, wellbeing guidance, and team-building activities that strengthen communication and morale.

We know that when businesses invest in the wellbeing of their teams, everyone benefits. Employees feel valued and supported, while organisations build healthier, more positive working environments.

Investing in the future of counselling

One of the most meaningful ways we support mental health across the UK is by helping train the counsellors of the future.

Every qualified counsellor must complete mandatory placement hours as part of their training. At Healthbox CIC, we proudly provide placements for hundreds of counselling students, giving them the opportunity to gain valuable real-world experience in a supportive and professional environment.

Our experienced team provides guidance, mentorship, and high-quality training to help students grow into confident and compassionate practitioners. By investing in future counsellors, we are helping ensure that more people across the UK, and beyond will be able to access quality mental health support in years to come.

Mental health matters every week

Mental Health Awareness Week 2026 reminds us that mental wellbeing deserves attention, compassion, and investment all year round. No one should feel alone when facing life’s challenges, and no one should be unable to access support because of cost or circumstance.

We remain committed to breaking down barriers, strengthening communities, and creating accessible mental health support for people of all ages.

Whether through counselling, social prescribing, schools support, workplace wellbeing, or training future professionals, our goal is always the same: helping people feel heard, supported, and empowered to live healthier, happier lives.