Looking Back at Mental Health Awareness Week 2026
Mental Health Awareness Week is always one of the most important dates in our calendar, but this year felt truly special.
We spent the week out and about across the borough, meeting people where they are, sparking conversations, and bringing our community closer together.
From creative studios and local colleges to major employers, community hubs, and incredible local clubs, here is a look back at how we spent an unforgettable week!
Creativity, Community, and a Mayoral Visit at Clay & Glaze
We kicked off the week by partnering with the wonderful local creative space, Clay and Glaze, for an evening of pottery painting, conversation, and snacks. It was a brilliant reminder of how powerful it is to slow down, create something from scratch, and disconnect from the noise of everyday life.
We were deeply honoured to welcome the Mayor of Rochdale, Councillor Janet Emsley, to the studio. With her Term of Office ending that very week, we were incredibly moved that she chose to spend one of her final official engagements with us. She even rolled up her sleeves and painted a pot of her own!
If you attended, don’t forget to tag us in your photos when your masterpieces come out of the kiln!
Dodging the Rain (But Planning for Summer!)
We had grand plans to take our selfie frame out to the Riverside Shops all week, but sadly the weather had other ideas! While the wind and rain stopped play this time, we aren’t letting it damp our spirits! We are already looking forward to getting the frame back out in the sunshine on Riverside this summer, keep an eye out on our socials for when we will next be out there!
Supporting Students at Hopwood Hall College
It was fantastic to connect with Hopwood Hall College, where we provided our Rochdale Mind Calm Kits for them to distribute directly to their young people out in the community.
Cleland McIver
Mental health is just as important in the workplace as it is anywhere else, which is why we loved the truly purposeful day with the team at Cleland McIver. As a major local employer, they showed an amazing commitment to the wellbeing of their staff.
We brought along our brand-new Rochdale Mind selfie frame, which was put to excellent use! It was a fantastic icebreaker, helping us spread awareness about our services, break down stigmas, and chat with employees about how we can support them both inside and outside of work.
Spreading the Word at Number One Riverside & WHAG
We wanted to ensure support was accessible in as many places as possible during the week.
Over at Number One Riverside, we set up an interactive information pop-up. It was wonderful to see so many passers-by stopping to take materials, grab info booklets, and pick up more of our Calm Kits. Every leaflet taken is a reminder to someone that they aren’t alone.
We also made sure that vital resources were getting directly to the frontline, providing five packs of vital mental health information to the over at WHAG, ensuring their staff and service users have the right support right at their fingertips.
A Permanent Commitment with Hand of Hollow
We witnessed a completely unique show of support from the team at Hand of Hollow tattoo studio. They hosted a dedicated tattoo day, beautifully capturing the essence of a permanent commitment to mental health. It was a powerful, lasting reminder that looking after our minds isn’t just a trend for one week in May, it’s a lifelong journey, and our community is in it together.
And last, but certainly not least!
Celebrations with Littleborough Ladies Club!
We were absolutely thrilled and deeply honoured to be named Charity of the Year by the wonderful Littleborough Ladies Club! To celebrate, members of our team attended a lovely handover dinner. It was a beautiful evening filled with warmth, great conversation, and community spirit. We are incredibly grateful for their support, which will make a massive difference to our work over the coming year. Thank you, ladies!
Thank You, Rochdale!
A massive thank you to all the local businesses, organisations, and individuals who partnered with us, welcomed us, or simply stopped by for a chat. We are so proud to serve Rochdale and District, and we’re entirely inspired by the conversations we had this week.
Missed us during the week? Remember, our support doesn’t stop when Mental Health Awareness Week ends.
Take a look our website to learn more about our local groups, listening lounges, and creative spaces, or get in touch with our team today.
Posted on: 21st May 2026