Emotional Health Week 2025: How You Can Support Emotional Health in the workplace.

Emotional Health Awareness week logo.

In today's fast-paced work environment, emotional health is more important than ever. As we celebrate Emotional Awareness Week 2025, it’s time to take a closer look at how we can create a supportive atmosphere at work.

Prioritising emotional well-being can lead to not just happier employees but also better performance, team-work and overall success.

What is Emotional Health and why do we have an Emotional Health Week?

Emotional Health Week marks the date that the Centre for Emotional Health (formerly Family Links) was formed. It is a time to reflect on the importance of well-being in our lives.

Emotional health is as important as physical health, and shapes how we think, feel and act. It also affects how we relate to others, cope with stress and make decisions.

Our emotional health is not just something that sits privately within our heads; it outwardly affects our family, friendships, places of work and our wider community.

Emotional Health Week shines a light on the importance of self care and open conversations about mental health.

What is the difference between Mental Health and Emotional Health?

Mental health describes an overall cognition and psychological functioning. Mental health conditions may require professional treatment.

Emotional health is how we experience, understand, express and manage our emotions. It is about recognising and regulating emotions such as joy, anger and fear and being able to balance them in order to effectively cope with stress and conflict. Emotional health also plays a part in how we build resilience and fulfil our potential.

How can I work on improving my emotional health?

By taking a few small steps, we can set our emotional health up for success.

• Stay Active: The statistics on this one do not lie: movement is good for your mind, body and soul. The NHS advises that adults should do some type of physical activity each day. Every steps counts, so perhaps you could park further away from work than usual, dedicate some time during your break to go for a walk or maybe take the stairs instead of the lift. Stay consistent to see and feel the benefits. Don't wait for motivation - take action first!

• Maintain positive relationships: Make the time to continually invest in relationships that make you feel supported and good about yourself. Positive social connections are vital for our emotional health.

• Limit stress: While a certain amount of stress is unavoidable in life, try and identify and cut out any unnecessary stressors. Take the time to practice mindfulness and relaxation and be aware of what activities and interactions leave you feeling calm, and which leave you feeling stressed and depleted.

• Sleep and rest: It is recommended that adults up to the age of 64 need 7-9 hours per night. Sleep can affect your mental regulation and immune system, which in-turn affects your ability to cope with everyday life. Almost 1/5 people in the UK are not getting enough sleep.

Emotional Health and the workplace

An emotionally healthy workforce is known to enhance productivity, performance, employee retention, and team dynamics.

Here are four ideas to support emotional well-being in your workplace:

1. Build a community: Motivate colleagues to interact with individuals beyond their direct teams or departments. This might involve sitting with different people in shared areas, joining team sports or other physical activities, organising fundraisers, or participating in community volunteering. Cultivating a sense of community and broader involvement in the workplace can enhance our sense of belonging and improve cohesion.

2. Encourage physical activity: Prioritise physical health by promoting and facilitating opportunities for exercise and healthy lifestyles. This can range from walking to work and active lunch breaks to team sports fundraisers that foster camaraderie. A nutritious diet also results in fewer illnesses, reduced staff absences, and improved energy levels. On March 23rd 2025, 3D Recruit will participate in a team challenge at the Hastings Half Marathon. Supporting the local charity Education Futures Trust (EFT), the 3D Recruit Run Team will lace up their trainers to aid Literacy and Speech & Language support in local primary schools!

3. Support learning and development: Create chances for individuals to acquire new skills and advance their careers. Although encountering new challenges can be intimidating at first, it ultimately enhances our self-esteem and leaves us feeling, well, pretty darn good! This benefits not only your professional life but also strengthens emotional health.

4. Foster respect and appreciation for others: Respect should be a basic expectation, irrespective of an individual's official position within an organisation. Encourage managers to use phrases like ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ and to openly acknowledge contributions and successes. At 3D Recruit, we adhere to the principle, "It's ok to disagree, but don't be disagreeable".

During Emotional Week 2025, think about how you can incorporate these strategies into your daily life and work environment. Promoting emotional health is not only advantageous; it is crucial for fostering a thriving community where everyone feels appreciated and supported. Let's collectively prioritise emotional well-being in our professional environments and positively influence our workplace culture.

This article was written by 3D Recruit, a recruitment agency for the social work, education and healthcare sectors. Established in 2000 in Hastings, East Sussex, 3D Recruit offers a wide selection of supply teaching and education support jobs in Sussex and Kent, social work locum, interim and permanent jobs, and healthcare support worker and managerial jobs throughout the UK. 3D Recruit is a Compliance+ approved agency and a Investor in People.