Mental Health Awareness Week: Making Space for the Not-Okay Days
Every May, Mental Health Awareness Week offers a quiet invitation to pause and reflect, within ourselves and those around us.
We’re slowly getting better at talking about mental health, but many of us still carry the idea that it means feeling positive all the time or keeping everything together, when in reality, mental health is far more complex as it includes the messy bits, the overwhelm, the low moods, the self-doubt, just as much as it does the calm or content days.
Some days we hold it together. Other days we don’t. That doesn’t mean something’s wrong with us, rather it means we’re human.
What Does Good Mental Health Really Mean?
Mental health isn’t a fixed state as it shifts depending on what’s happening in our lives. You might feel steady in some areas, for example in friendships or work, but find yourself struggling in others, like self-esteem or relationships.
Its important to remember that it doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong, instead, something in your life might need your attention, care, or support.
Sometimes the things that help are skills you’ve picked up along the way, like how to steady yourself when your thoughts start to spiral. At other times, they come from talking to someone who helps you make sense of what’s going on. That’s often what therapy offers, not a solution, but a space where you can feel seen, heard, and less alone in it all.
The Roles We Inherit (and How They Hold Us Back)
In therapy sessions at Roles We Play Counselling, I often hear people say things like:
“I should be coping better.”
“Other people have it worse.”
“I don’t want to waste your time.”
These thoughts aren’t random. They usually come from old roles we’ve learned to play, like always being the strong one, the fixer, or the one who keeps the peace.
Those roles might have helped you get through difficult times, but over time, they can become restrictive. They tell you not to ask for help. They push you to keep going even when you’re exhausted. They make you feel ashamed for simply being overwhelmed.
Therapy can help you unpack those patterns and gently question whether they still serve you, and from there, you can start to rewrite the script.
One Small Check-In for Mental Health Awareness Week
If you’re used to looking after everyone else, this week might be a good time to ask yourself:
How have I really been lately?
Am I carrying more than I realise?
What would it feel like to ask for help, or take something off my plate?
You don’t have to have all the answers, and you don’t need to be in crisis to start therapy. It’s just as valuable as a preventative space as a way to explore your thoughts and feelings before they build up.
Mental Health Support That Meets You Where You Are
If you’re feeling stuck, anxious, burnt out, or simply not yourself, therapy can help you reconnect with who you are beneath the roles and expectations.
At Roles We Play Counselling, I offer a free first session so you can get a feel for whether therapy feels right for you. Whether you're exploring mental health for the first time or returning to it after a break, you’re welcome to use the space however it helps, whether it’s to unpack something specific or simply to reflect.
