When is Mental Health Awareness Week 2025?
Running from 12 to 18 May 2025, this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week, led by the Mental Health Foundation, highlights the importance of strong, supportive communities. The workplace is one of the most influential communities in an adult’s life—so how we connect, support, and engage at work directly affects how we feel. In the fitness world, the idea of community is already recognised for driving participation and improving outcomes. The same can apply in your workplace.
Why Mental Health Matters to Business
The business case for supporting mental wellbeing has never been clearer. According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), stress, depression, and anxiety accounted for 49% of all work-related sickness absence last year.
More data drives the point home:
- NHS England reports that 1 in 4 adults experience a diagnosable mental health issue each year.
- MHFA England states that 25% of UK workers feel unable to cope with stress, and 63% now show signs of burnout.
- Deloitte found that 61% of people leaving their jobs cited poor mental health as a key reason.
These figures represent more than human cost—they hit productivity, retention, recruitment, and reputation. The effects are wide-reaching.
5 Mental Wellbeing Challenges Facing Employees
Understanding the landscape is the first step towards change. Here are some key challenges:
- Chronic stress and burnout: As the lines between work and home blur, many employees struggle to switch off—especially those working remotely.
- Isolation and loneliness: Technology may keep us connected, but it doesn’t replace real social interaction—particularly in hybrid or remote settings.
- Financial worries: Rising costs place huge pressure on employees, affecting day-to-day wellbeing.
- Sedentary routines: Lack of movement links directly to both physical health issues and higher rates of anxiety and depression.
- Job insecurity: Economic changes, AI disruption and fast-moving markets all contribute to workplace stress and long-term uncertainty.
What Can Employers Do?
Creating a mentally healthy workplace takes more than good intentions. From open conversations to well-trained managers, wellbeing should be part of the culture—not an afterthought. It’s also worth reviewing your benefits to ensure employees have real access to tools that support both body and mind.
That’s where workplace fitness communities come in. They offer more than exercise; they build connection, routine, and resilience.
Why Build a Fitness Community at Work?
This year’s focus on community is a reminder of the importance of belonging. Fitness communities give employees the chance to move together, connect meaningfully, and benefit from the mental boost that exercise provides.
The benefits of combining fitness with community are well proven:
- Belonging: Team workouts or group challenges help employees feel more connected to each other and the company.
- Reduced isolation: Regular group activities provide space to engage with people across departments.
- Lower stress: Physical activity naturally reduces cortisol levels—and when done socially, the effect can be even stronger.
- Boosted mood: Group fitness can raise morale and support job satisfaction.
- Greater resilience: Employees who move regularly are better equipped to manage stress and stay motivated.
How to Make It Work
It takes more than a gym membership or a one-off event to build a fitness culture. Here’s how to create a lasting impact:
- Offer flexibility: Employees have different needs. Provide a variety of ways to get active—online, in-person, high-intensity, or low-impact.
- Make it social: Encourage peer interaction. Build chat groups, host challenges, and celebrate milestones together.
- Lead by example: When leaders take part, it shows that wellbeing matters at every level of the organisation.
- Remove obstacles: Time and access are the biggest blockers. Flexible working, subsidised gym passes, and local options all make a difference.
Why Flexible Fitness Benefits Work
This Mental Health Awareness Week reminds us that supporting employees is about more than providing resources—it’s about connection. Fitness communities support both individual health and collective culture. And when employees have flexible, accessible options, they’re more likely to take part.
When fitness becomes a shared value, you’re not just building a healthier team—you’re strengthening your workplace community. In a world where mental health challenges are on the rise, it’s one of the most meaningful habits a company can promote.
Hussle makes it easy to build a thriving fitness community at your workplace. With access to thousands of gyms, pools, and fitness spaces across the UK, our flexible corporate fitness benefits help you meet your people where they are—supporting mental wellbeing through movement and community. Talk to our team today to explore what’s possible.
