Mental Health Awareness Week 2023

We all get anxious at one point or another, but sometimes it can become overwhelming. If you ever need to talk with someone, BASW’s Professional Support Service provides free and confidential 1:1 support for social workers and students.

Designed to support wellbeing and address practice concerns, the service offers essential space to talk with a trained peer coach- who is also a social worker- about any professional or personal challenges you’re facing and to explore ways forward.

The service is available to BASW members in England and to both members and non-members in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. You can access up to three one-to-one video or telephone sessions with a coach chosen by you to best suit your needs. 

Watch our short video series explaining more about the service here.

Find out how to book a session with the Professional Support Service here.

For Mental Health Awareness Week, some of our coaches share their insights into everyday ways to support our mental health and wellbeing and manage feelings of anxiety or stress.

Irene Drummond: “I would advocate being outdoors a tonic for overall health and wellbeing.”

Janet Bannerman: “Have a positive support network you can tap into as and when needed. If possible, remove yourself from the situation and take a quick 5-minute walk and return.”

Michael O’Farrell: “Talk about it asap use someone you trust, friend, colleague or the BASW Coaching Service, don’t let it fester and impact on your health and practice. In the coaching team we are an experienced, approachable, friendly group of professionals who will listen non-judgemental and work with you.”

Annie Maciver: “When it all feels too much ‘phone a friend’ and literally take a breath together. A co- regulation buddy. Feeling calmer restores problem solving capacity.”

More information about Mental Health Awareness Week is available here.