Mental Health Awareness Week is an annual event when there is an opportunity for the whole of the UK to focus on achieving good mental health. The Mental Health Foundation started the event 21 years ago. The event has grown to become one of the biggest awareness weeks across the UK and globally.

Loneliness

Loneliness is affecting more and more of us in the UK and had a huge impact on our physical and mental health during the pandemic. Our connection to other people and our community is fundamental to protecting our mental health and we need to find better ways of tackling the epidemic of loneliness. We can all play a part in this.

Read more here.

Mental Health and Cinema

Mental Health Awareness Week shines a light on mental health experiences. Often misrepresented, mental health stories on screen can add to stigma around mental health conditions. films can also present opportunities to raise awareness, support education and broaden understanding about mental health experiences, and ignite important discussions about how we look after each other. Find some highlighted films and events on this page, along with resources to support the wellbeing of cinema audiences.

Online films

We have provided some links to some interesting films below. If you are a filmmaker who works with themes of mental health and have work online, for example on your website, YouTube or Vimeo, you can let us know about it by completing our contact form here.

Online cinema ideas

Online initiatives can help people and communities to connect and support people experiencing mental health problems. There are some resources included here for getting started with running events online. 

Could you:

  • set up a watch party and have a chat on Zoom/Skype after the film?
  • run an online drawing, poetry or drama workshop, using a film as a theme?
  • buddy up individuals to have a chat online each week about a short or feature film they’ve seen?

Film ideas and resources

Every Mind Matters Campaign
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Guide to Online Film Clubs
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Learn how to plan and run an online workshop
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Mental Health Foundation: Mental Health Awareness Week
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MHFA Mental Health Resources: Remote Working
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March Network: Creative Isolation
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Film + TV Charity: Mental Health Community
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Using film screenings to raise public awareness of mental health
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Into Film Resources: Mental Wellbeing
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5 Documentaries About Depression & Mental Health Conditions That Have Helped Move The Conversation Forward
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The State of Mental Health
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Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival
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Northern Ireland Mental Health Arts Festival
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Film: Final Ascent: The Legend Of Hamish McInnes (PG)
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Mind: Information and Support
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Minds on Film Index
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Mental health facts and statistics
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Film: The Hours (12)
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Film: Madeline's Madeline (15)
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11 Films For Teaching Children’s Mental Health Week
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BBC Teach: Mental Health and Wellbeing teaching resources
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Cinematic Representations of Mental Illness: Melancholia/ The Girl on the Train / Three Colours: Blue
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Mental Health Toolkit for Employers
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Black and Minority Ethnic communities faced with double the levels of discrimination
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YoungMinds: Fighting for young people's mental health
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Film: Irene's Ghost (PG)
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BFI Player FREE archive film: A Modern Guide to Health
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Film: Eighth Grade (15)
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Into Film Resources: Mental Wellbeing
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Whole Picture Programme - Pioneering action for better mental health
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Film report - Screening madness: A century of negative movie stereotypes of mental illness
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Mental Health for All by Involving All | Vikram Patel | TED Talks

MHFA: Supporting your mental health while working from home