10 Strategies to Support Employee Mental Health in the Workplace

Recognising Mental Health Awareness Week and Pride Month 2025

As Mental Health Awareness Week (12–18 May 2025) leads into Pride Month this June, it’s a powerful reminder that supporting employee mental health means showing up for all people in your organisation, including LGBTQ+ employees, neurodivergent individuals, and those navigating visible or invisible mental health challenges.

At Gilded Bee, we believe that mental wellness in the workplace goes hand in hand with embracing diversity, building psychological safety, and making employees feel seen and valued for who they truly are.

Whether you're a team of five or five hundred, your approach to mental wellbeing in the workplace has never been more important, or more strategic. According to the Mental Health Foundation, 1 in 6.8 people experience mental health problems in the workplace, and stress, depression, and anxiety are responsible for over half of all working days lost due to health issues in the UK.

As we honour Mental Health Awareness Week 2025 and look ahead to London Pride in June, here are 10 practical ways to support mental health and wellbeing in your workplace, all year round.

1. Start with leadership

When senior leaders model open conversations around mental wellbeing, it creates a ripple effect. Share personal stories (if appropriate), endorse mental health support initiatives, and treat wellbeing as a business priority, not a perk.

2. Offer mental health training for managers

Line managers are your first line of defence. Equip them with the training and confidence to spot signs of poor mental health, have compassionate conversations, and direct team members to the right resources.

3. Create inclusive spaces where everyone feels safe

Supporting mental health and wellbeing in the workplace means acknowledging how experiences of discrimination, micro-aggressions or exclusion can impact wellbeing, especially for LGBTQ+ colleagues. Inclusion isn’t a tick-box, it’s a culture.

4. Celebrate Pride Month meaningfully

Show your LGBTQ+ employees they are valued, not just during June, but year-round. Host speaker events, share employee stories, or partner with LGBTQ+ mental health charities. Visibility is powerful when it's paired with action.

5. Normalise mental health days

Encourage people to take time off for mental wellbeing, not just physical illness. Lead by example and communicate that “mental health days” are valid and supported.

6. Provide access to professional support

Whether it’s an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), subsidised therapy, or partnerships with mental health platforms, ensure that employees can easily access professional help when needed.

7. Create moments of calm

We specialise in helping companies build intentional moments of pause through gifting, whether it’s a breathing lamp on every desk, a mental wellbeing journal in your onboarding pack, or a ‘mental reset’ kit after a big event. These micro-acts of care have macro impact.

8. Promote flexible working

Give people autonomy over where and how they work. Flexibility is one of the top drivers of mental wellbeing at work, especially for carers, neurodiverse employees, and those living with chronic mental health conditions.

9. Celebrate small wins

Recognition and appreciation boost morale and belonging. Thoughtful, personalised gifts, rather than generic swag, go a long way in showing employees they matter. And yes, we can help with that.

10. Measure and improve

Use anonymous surveys to check in on how your team is really feeling. Measure the impact of your mental wellbeing initiatives and be open to evolving your approach.

Supporting mental well-being in the workplace: A year-round commitment

Whether you’re marking Mental Health Awareness Week, London Pride, or simply reflecting on how to support your team better, now’s the time to act. Employees want more than yoga and a fruit bowl. They want to feel safe, valued, and understood.

At Gilded Bee, we help organisations embed care into their culture, from branded wellbeing kits to conference gifts with purpose. Because when you show up for your people, they show up for your business.

📩 Get in touch to explore how we can support your mental health and DEI goals through thoughtful gifting and intentional experiences.

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