Supporting Minds at Work: Mental Health Awareness Week 2025

Mental Health Awareness Week, running from 12th–18th May this year, invites us to reflect on one of the most critical issues facing modern businesses: the mental wellbeing of their workforce.

In high-performance sectors like accountancy and executive recruitment, the pressure to deliver can be relentless. Long hours, client demands, and the personal ambition that drives success can also lead to anxiety, burnout, and disengagement if left unchecked.

But here’s the good news: change doesn’t have to be complicated. At Ford Search Partners, we’re seeing a cultural shift. More firms are asking not just “How can we grow?” but “How can we grow *sustainably*?”

This Mental Health Awareness Week, here are five low-cost, high-impact actions your business can take:

1. Start the conversation – Encourage open dialogue around mental health. Use your internal channels to share stories, resources, and reassurance.
2. Support line managers – Equip them to spot signs of poor mental health, and empower them to respond with empathy, not avoidance.
3. Normalise taking breaks – A 15-minute walk, a screen-free lunch, a proper holiday – these aren’t luxuries, they’re necessary resets.
4. Offer mental health first aid – Consider investing in staff training so there’s always someone who knows how to respond in a crisis.
5. Check your own habits – Leadership behaviour sets the tone. Show your team that it’s OK to unplug, speak up, and seek support.

Mental health isn’t a separate issue from business performance – it’s a core part of it. Happier, healthier teams are more resilient, more creative, and more loyal.

Let’s use this week not just for awareness – but for action.