Tag Archives: Mental Health Advocacy

Mental Health Awareness Week 2026 – Take Action

Mental Health Awareness Week 2026 over in the UK runs from Monday 11 to Sunday 17 May, and the theme is Take Action. I know firsthand how challenging it can be to look after someone while managing your own wellbeing.

Mental Health Foundation is the main charity behind Mental Health Awareness Week in the UK, but there are many other important organisations playing key roles in mental health support, advocacy, treatment and public awareness.

So for the week of this blog, it is a reminder that even small steps can make a big difference, whether it’s checking in on a friend, practicing self-care, or seeking support from local and national organisations.

As a reminder Carers often put themselves last, but protecting your own mental health is essential and taking action starts with acknowledging that you deserve support too.

During this Mental Health Awareness Week, there are many organisations and local NHS carer support services provide invaluable guidance, counselling, and resources for unpaid carers.

The theme is “Every action counts”. From reaching out to your community, to joining peer support groups, to simply taking a moment for yourself.

Watch my video above for practical tips, encouragement, and ways to take action for your mental health and the wellbeing of those you care for.

Let’s work together to make mental health a priority for everyone, today and every day.

Additional Resources for Carers and Mental Health Support

Who is – A Poem for Mental Health Carers by Matthew McKenzie

Mental health carers often navigate a system that feels fragmented, leaving them unheard and unseen. My new spoken word poem, “Who is”, explores this reality asking who is believed, listened to, supported, or left behind when the challenges of mental illness take hold.

Taken from my upcoming poetry collection, Unpaid, Unseen and Yet Unbroken (launching 2026), this piece reflects the experiences of unpaid carers, particularly from ethnic minority communities, who face the added burden of navigating a system that often overlooks their voices.

Through poetry, I hope to open a conversation about the importance of listening, understanding, and valuing carers’ lived experiences.

🎥 Watch the full poem here: Who is – Spoken Word Poem

Bipolar Awareness Is More Than One Day – World Bipolar Day 2026

To mark World Bipolar Day 2026, I’ve created a short video highlighting the reality of living with bipolar and the vital role of unpaid carers, friends, and family. Awareness is important, but understanding and everyday support matter just as much.

In this video, I share reflections as a mental health carer and activist, focusing on the human side of bipolar and the people who often support quietly in the background.
👉 Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnn0tfLs2z8

World Bipolar Day is supported globally by organisations including:

In the UK, Bipolar UK (https://www.bipolaruk.org) provides vital peer support for people affected by bipolar, including carers. Carer organisations also play a crucial role in supporting unpaid carers:

Are You a Carer? Help Improve Care Under the Mental Health Act

Post shared by Matthew McKenzie

When someone you care about experiences a mental health crisis, the system needs to work quickly, safely and compassionately. But for many families and carers, the reality can involve delays, uncertainty, and distress especially when assessments or admissions happen under the Mental Health Act.

Now, there is a meaningful opportunity for carers to use their lived experience to shape research that aims to improve this care.

The importance of the Research

In times of crisis, timely support can prevent someone from becoming more unwell or needing more restrictive interventions later. Researchers at King’s College London want to better understand:

  • Experiences of delays in Mental Health Act assessments
  • What happens during admissions to hospital
  • How care pathways could be made safer and more responsive

Crucially, they want carers and service users at the heart of this work.

A Paid Opportunity to Share Your Expertise

Family members and carers of young people or adults who have received care under the Mental Health Act are warmly invited to join a Lived Experience Advisory Board.

As a carer, your insight is invaluable. You will help:

  • Shape the direction of the research
  • Share your views on how care could be improved
  • Ensure the work reflects real-life experiences

Meetings will take place both online and in person (London), making it accessible to a wide range of participants.

Participants will receive £27.50 per hour (plus expenses) in recognition of their time and expertise.

Who Can Get Involved?

The research team would like to hear from:

  • Adults aged 18+ with experience of detention under the Mental Health Act
  • Family members and carers of young people or adults with experience of care under the Mental Health Act

If you have supported someone through assessment, admission, or crisis care, your perspective could directly influence how future services are designed and delivered.

Be Part of Making Care Safer

This work is funded by the Better Health & Care Hub at King’s College London and is focused on improving safety and outcomes for people in crisis.

Your lived experience can help ensure future families face fewer delays, clearer communication, and safer care pathways.

To get involved or find out more, visit:
tinyurl.com/MHAcarepathways

If you have any questions, you can contact Phoebe at:
phoebe.averill@kcl.ac.uk

Poetry Submissions for Minority Carers in Mental Health Care: Share Your Voice

Matthew McKenzie FRSA BEM, poet and advocate for unpaid ethnic mental health carers, is inviting carers involved in NHS Trusts, PCREF (Patient and Carer Race Equality Framework), and Trust involvement registers to submit their poems for an upcoming 2026 poetry collection. This collection will spotlight minority carers’ voices and explore themes of race, culture, and lived experience in mental health care.

About the Poetry Collection

The collection will focus on amplifying minority carers’ experiences through poetry. It will be part of the paperback version of Matthew’s upcoming poetry book Unpaid, Unseen and Yet Unbroken and will include poems from carers all over the country. This is a unique opportunity for minority ethnic carers to have their voices heard and their stories shared on a national platform, contributing to the ongoing conversation about race equality, care, and mental health.

Why Should You Submit a Poem?

If you’re a minority carer or carers from underrepresented community, your voice matters. PCREF is committed to creating systemic change, and this collection will work alongside it to ensure that carers from minority communities are not left unheard. Submitting your poem gives you the chance to:

  • Raise awareness of the emotional, cultural, and psychological realities of being a carer.
  • Inspire others by sharing your lived experience.
  • Amplify minority voices within NHS Trusts, PCREF spaces, and mental health care systems.

Who Can Submit?

We welcome submissions from unpaid ethnic mental health carers who are:

  • Involved in NHS Trusts, PCREF, or trust involvement registers.
  • Attending ethnic mental health carer peer groups at carer centres
  • Interested in sharing their personal experiences and reflections through poetry.

How to Submit Your Poem:

  • Submit an original poem that reflects the emotional, cultural, and psychological realities of being an unpaid mental health carer.
  • Poems can focus on themes such as:
    • Emotional challenges of care
    • The hidden burden of caring
    • Resilience and survival
    • Navigating mental health services
    • Coping with racial and cultural barriers in care
    • Family dynamics in caregiving
  • Deadline for submissions is late April 2026.

Submission Guidelines:

  1. Format: Poems can be submitted in Word, PDF, or plain text format.
  2. Length: There is no strict length, but we recommend that submissions be no longer than 1 page.
  3. Multiple submissions: You can submit more than one poem if desired.
  4. Contact Information: Please include your full name, contact details along with your poem, so i can credit you. Unless you wish to be anonymous.

How to Submit:

You can also reach out to Matthew directly if you have any questions about the submission process or the collection.

What Happens After You Submit?

Once submissions are received, I will review all entries and select poems that align with the themes of the collection. All selected poets will be notified and credited in the final publication.

Need Inspiration or Support?

If you’re unsure where to start or need some encouragement, consider reflecting on your personal journey as a carer. Think about moments where language failed to express your experience or times when your strength surprised you. Your story is valuable, and this collection is about lifting up voices that have often been overlooked.

Contact Information:

For any questions or additional information, please contact Matthew McKenzie:

Submit Your Poem and Be Part of the Change

This is your chance to raise awareness and inspire others by sharing your lived experiences through poetry. Help shape a future where minority carers are valued, heard, and recognized for the essential work they do. We look forward to reading your stories!

Making Time for Black Mental Health: A Black Male Carer’s Reflection

By Matthew McKenzie – Carer activist with Think Tenacity Academy CIC at Nando’s High Street Kensington
(Event held during Black History Month 2025)

A Warm Welcome and a Powerful Beginning

On Tuesday 28 October 2025 at Nando’s, 229 Kensington High Street.


As soon as I entered, the scent of grilled peri-peri wings mixed with the buzz of conversation. The event Making Time for Black Mental Health was hosted by Think Tenacity Academy CIC, led by founder Bella Rareworld.

Continue reading →

Celebrating Carers UK Volunteers at St James’s Park – A Day to Remember

By Matthew McKenzie – Carers UK Volunteer and Ambassador

On Friday 6 June, I had the pleasure of joining Carers Uk and fellow Carers UK volunteers at a picnic in St James’s Park, London a brilliant afternoon full of connection, recognition, and shared purpose. The weather managed to hold “Thank Goodness!”

As a Carers UK volunteer and ambassador, it was great to see so many familiar faces and meet new ones, all united by a commitment to supporting unpaid carers across the UK. The picnic was a chance for us to unwind, share stories, and enjoy the beautiful surroundings of the park.

One of the highlights of the afternoon was the volunteer awards recognising the time, energy, and dedication that so many of us give. It was humbling to stand alongside other passionate volunteers and celebrate each other’s contributions.

Volunteers’ Week is a vital opportunity to shine a light on the incredible work of volunteers across the country and to say thank you for the real difference they make every day.

Later in the day, we teamed up to distribute Carers UK membership resources around the area, helping to raise awareness and connect more carers to support. You can check the link below to find resources.

https://www.carersuk.org/help-and-advice/

If you are interested in volunteering at Carers UK, see the link below.

https://www.carersuk.org/get-involved/volunteer-with-us/

I would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who helped organise the event and to those who brought food and drink. Moments like these remind us that we’re not alone in what we do as Carers – we’re part of a caring, committed community.

Looking forward to the next one!

Carers Week 2025: Supporting Unpaid Mental Health Carers

Help raise awareness for unpaid mental health carers during Carers Week 2025. Learn how to support and recognize their vital, often unseen role in society. To watch the video of this blog, click the video below

Recognizing the Unseen: The Vital Role of Unpaid Carers in Mental Health

Every year, Carers Week serves as a powerful reminder of the millions of individuals who dedicate their lives to supporting loved ones with health challenges often without recognition, compensation, or adequate support.

Continue reading →

Ethnic mental health Carer Forum Update May 2025

Quick update on ethnic mental health carer group

The meeting focused on carer involvement and representation across different regions, with participants discussing their roles in supporting carers and addressing discrimination. The main focus for this meeting was on “What does good look like?” when it comes to Triangle of Care and PCREF.

The group explored the Triangle of Care initiative and its five key elements, including discussions about medication-related challenges and the need for better communication between healthcare providers and carers. The conversation ended with conversations about improving carer support systems, including the importance of advocacy, training, and creating safe spaces for carers to share concerns confidentially.

Continue reading →

Black Storytelling, Real Healing: Inside Think Tenacity’s Mental Health Awareness Week Event

By Matthew McKenzie, carer activist
Date: May 24, 2025

In an evening charged with truth, courage, and community spirit, Think Tenacity Academy CIC hosted one of the most impactful events of Mental Health Awareness Week 2025. Held at Think Tenacity HQ in Vauxhall and themed #BlackStorytellingCommunity, the gathering was more than a panel or workshop, it was a safe space for healing through shared experience.

The event was led by Bella Rareworld, Think Tenacity’s CEO and a mental health advocate living with bipolar disorder, the event was built on a legacy of ancestral wisdom: “Before slavery, social media, or podcasts, we passed on strength and knowledge through storytelling,” she reminded the audience. “Tonight, we reclaim that legacy not just to speak, but to heal, empower, and connect.”

Continue reading →