This year’s Mental Health Awareness Week (12–18 May) focuses on a subject that resonates deeply with us and particularly with two powerful pillars of UK society: the Armed Forces community and small business owners.
The theme for Mental Health Awareness Week in 2025 – Community – is one with which we can all identify through a shared need for connection, belonging, and mutual support.
Camaraderie That Extends Beyond Service
For serving personnel, veterans, and military families, community has always been a source of strength. Whether it’s the shared bonds forged in service, the support among families on bases, or the networks that exist in civilian life, the Armed Forces community thrives when its members look out for one another.
Transitions – such as returning from deployment or moving into ‘Civvy Street’ – can challenge mental health. Feelings of isolation, identity shifts, and adjusting to new norms out with the services can be difficult. That’s why maintaining strong, supportive communities is vital. Reaching out, staying connected, and continuing the ethos of ‘leave no one behind’ can make all the difference. As can:
· Staying in touch with former colleagues and offering a listening ear
· Joining veteran support networks or peer groups
· Encouraging open conversation around mental health
· Promoting awareness of support services like SSAFA, Help for Heroes, Op COURAGE, and others – Cobseo is an excellent source
At X-Forces Enterprise, we pride ourselves on delivering wraparound support for the wider military family, delivered through lifelong enterprise skills training, mentoring, access to start-up finance, and – importantly – networking. Beneficiaries like Nigel Seaman, who has had his own challenges with mental health, go on to dedicate their lives to social enterprises that provide a pathway for others with similar stories.
The Soldiering On Awards recognise and celebrate those who go the extra mile to support members of the Armed Forces community each and every day, year after year. In telling the stories of individuals like Tony Wright – winner of last year’s Lifetime Achievement Award and a man who has dedicated his life to the wellbeing of others – we light a beacon of inspiration throughout the military family and society itself.
Small Business Owners: You’re Not Alone
Running a small business can be rewarding – but it can also be lonely. Many small business owners shoulder long hours, financial stress, and the pressure to wear multiple hats – all of which can take a toll on mental wellbeing.
Unlike larger organisations, small business owners may lack access to HR support or wellbeing resources. That’s why fostering a sense of community – through networks, trade groups, and peer mentoring – is so important. You’re not alone, and you don’t have to carry the load in silence.
Strengthening mental health in the small business community:
· Start conversations about mental wellbeing in your business network
· Look out for fellow owners or sole traders who may be struggling
· Join local business forums or Chambers of Commerce
· Make use of free mental health resources from organisations like Mind or the Federation of Small Businesses
Community Is Our Shared Strength
Whether on the frontline or the shop floor, community is what sustains us all. It’s what reminds us we belong, we matter, and we’re not alone in facing life’s challenges.
This Mental Health Awareness Week, let’s honour the strength that lies in our connections and commit to looking out for each other.
