A host of famous faces are stepping out in green to inspire the nation to take part in Wear It Green Day on 14 May, during Mental Health Awareness Week.
Location: United Kingdom
TV legend Gaby Roslin, comedian Fats Timbo, actor Ore Oduba, mega influencer Jim Chapman, drag performer Veronica Green, performer and presenter Dr Ranj Singh, and TV and Radio presenter Melvin Odoom have all showcased bold green looks styled by celebrity fashion stylist Ellis Ranson to champion the campaign and encourage people to join in on Thursday 14 May. Wearing green, the international colour of mental health awareness, will help spark conversations and show visible support for good mental health for all.
Wear it Green Day takes place during Mental Health Awareness Week, the UK’s biggest mental health campaign run by the Mental Health Foundation, which this year focuses on the theme of Action. The theme encourages people across the country to take small, meaningful steps to support their own mental wellbeing and the wellbeing of others. Wearing green is one of the simplest actions anyone can take to show support, and when thousands take part together, it sends a powerful message that mental health matters and we all have a role to play.
As one of the Mental Health Foundation’s most important fundraising moments, Wear It Green Day helps fund vital work to tackle the root causes of poor mental health and prevent mental health problems before they start. People and organisations taking part are encouraged to fundraise or donate £3 per person.
Hosting a Wear It Green Day event is a simple and uplifting way for workplaces, schools, community groups and households to come together in support of better mental health. Whether it involves a coffee morning, a green themed fancy dress day, a bake sale, a team lunch or even a whole office takeover, every event helps start important conversations and raise vital funds for mental health prevention. To make planning easy, the Mental Health Foundation has created a full set of free resources on the Wear it Green Day web pages, including downloadable posters, quizzes, fundraising ideas, conversation starters, social media graphics and a step-by-step event pack. These tools are designed to help you host an engaging, inclusive and impactful event, whatever the size of your group or community.
Wear It Green Day and Mental Health Awareness Week are powerful moments that get us all thinking, talking and taking action to support good mental health. It matters that we keep these conversations going and show up for one another. If you’re going through a tough time or struggling with your mental health, please reach out to someone you trust because talking can make a real difference.
For me, good mental health isn’t about being happy all the time because that’s not realistic. It’s about resilience, which means being able to bounce back from the challenges that life throws at you. We all have ups and downs and I think the key is navigating through all of that so that you can enjoy and appreciate the good bits and manage the not so good bits. I am so pleased and proud to be supporting Wear it Green Day because, even though it’s only one day, it serves as a reminder that we should be looking out for our mental health every day. Hopefully it will help spark some conversations, encourage people to open up and seek help when they need it, and remind everyone that they’re not alone.
I am very happy to be supporting Wear it Green Day for the Mental Health Foundation. It’s so important that we look after our mental health in the same way as we look after our physical health and this campaign reminds us of that. The main action I take to support my mental health is really simple – I just talk. I talk to my friends and my family and those conversations always give me a real boost. In addition to that music has always been my first love so listening to music always gives me a boost.
Good physical and mental health go hand in hand, so taking a moment to check in with ourselves and understand how we’re feeling - and why we’re feeling it - is really important. Simple, everyday tools can help protect and restore our wellbeing before problems build up. I’m a huge believer in conversation. It sounds simple, but we need more opportunities for people to speak and be heard, and more people willing to listen without judgement. Everyone goes through challenges, and being able to share how we feel can make a real difference. I hope we keep moving forward and continue working towards good mental health for all.
I’m delighted to be supporting Wear it Green Day and the Mental Health Foundation. Good mental health is not a luxury, it’s for all of us so I encourage everyone to follow my example and wear their most fabulous green outfits on Wear it Green Day to help raise awareness and funds for good mental health for all. You might not look quite as good as me, but then again, who does?
Wear It Green Day is a fantastic way to raise awareness and vital funds to support good mental health for everyone. I feel amazing and bright in my green outfit, and I encourage everyone to join in on 14 May during Mental Health Awareness Week. It matters that we look out for each other. Being there to listen and support someone who’s struggling can make a huge difference and help them feel valued. I’m proud to wear green and support a cause that means so much.
Supporting Wear It Green Day and Mental Health Awareness Week means more to me than people realise. I’ve struggled with my mental health in the past, and it’s something I still have to work on every day. Taking action to protect my mental health is important because it helps me feel good in myself, and that means I can show up better for the people around me.
- Visit mentalhealth.org.uk/wear-it-green-day for more information and to download a Wear It Green Day pack.
ENDS
For further information or interview requests please contact the Mental Health Foundation media team: press@mentalhealth.org.uk
Notes to Editor
About the Mental Health Foundation and Mental Health Awareness Week
- Mental Health Foundation is the home of Mental Health Awareness Week. This year the campaign runs from 11-17 May and the theme is ‘Action’.
- Mental Health Awareness Week is made possible thanks to support from our Official Healthcare Partner Simplyhealth and our supporting partners, ISS, Olio and Mental Health at Work.
- For the third year, the JCDecaux Community Channel is supporting Mental Health Awareness Week with an out-of-home billboard campaign to reach millions of people across the UK with messages about good mental health.
- Mental Health Foundation is the only UK charity solely focused on preventing poor mental health and building and protecting good mental health. We research, develop and campaign for new and more effective ways to support and protect people’s good mental health.
- Mental Health Foundation is committed to promoting an anti-racist, inclusive community where we can all be ourselves.
- Mental Health Foundation relies on voluntary donations to provide evidenced based advice and carry out vital work to prevent poor mental health.
- Together, we can help everyone have better mental health.
About Simplyhealth
Simplyhealth simplify access to workplace healthcare by removing barriers and reducing costs – providing fast 24/7 GP and mental health support, health cash plans and pay-as-you-go services with no referral needed. As a proud B Corp with over 150 years of experience, Simplyhealth reinvest profits to make healthcare more accessible for everyone and commit at least £1 million annually to health-related charities and community causes.
About JCDecaux Community Channel
JCDecaux Community Channel enables not-for-profit community and charitable projects to access digital Out-of-Home locations in line with JCDecaux’s purpose and values. The JCDecaux Community Channel creates real value through the power of the public screen and aims to amplify Out-of-Home’s role as a force for good in the community.