Running from May 11th to 17th, Mental Health Awareness Week shines a spotlight on the importance of mental wellbeing and encourages individuals, communities, and organisations to have more open, informed conversations about mental health.
Organised by the Mental Health Foundation, the campaign has become one of the UK’s biggest awareness weeks, helping to break stigma, encourage support, and promote practical ways to improve mental wellbeing.
As we know, game development is creative, collaborative, and deeply rewarding work, but it can also be demanding. Tight deadlines, remote collaboration, job insecurity, and the pressure to constantly innovate can all take a toll on employees’ mental health if not managed carefully.
Mental Health Awareness Week offers an opportunity to reflect on how the industry can better support the people behind the games.
What Is Mental Health Awareness Week?
Mental Health Awareness Week was launched in 2001 by the Mental Health Foundation and takes place annually across the UK. Each year centres around a different theme, such as anxiety, loneliness, movement, or community, with the goal of encouraging conversations and practical action around mental wellbeing.
The campaign aims to:
- Raise awareness of mental health issues
- Reduce stigma and discrimination
- Encourage people to seek support when needed
- Promote habits and environments that improve wellbeing
- Inspire workplaces and communities to prioritise mental health
How Games Studios Can Support Employee Wellbeing
Supporting mental health does not require grand gestures or expensive programmes. Often, the most meaningful changes come from building a culture where people feel respected, supported, and able to speak openly.
Here are some practical ways for studios to consider that could improve wellbeing across their teams.
1. Create a Culture of Psychological Safety
Employees should feel comfortable discussing challenges without fear of judgement or negative consequences.
Leaders and managers can help by:
- Encouraging open conversations about wellbeing
- Normalising mental health discussions
- Listening actively and empathetically
- Avoiding blame-based management styles
- Checking in regularly with team members
When people feel psychologically safe, they are more likely to ask for help early and support one another.
2. Address Crunch Culture
Crunch has long been a controversial topic in games development. While occasional busy periods may be unavoidable, sustained overtime can significantly damage mental and physical health.
Studios can reduce the impact of crunch by:
- Improving project scoping and scheduling
- Setting realistic deadlines
- Encouraging employees to take breaks and holidays
- Monitoring workloads across teams
- Avoiding the glorification of overwork
Sustainable development practices benefit both employees and the quality of the final product.
3. Train Managers to Support Mental Health
Managers are often the first people employees turn to when struggling, but many have never received formal training in mental health support.
Providing managers with training can help them:
- Recognise signs of stress or burnout
- Have supportive conversations
- Signpost employees to professional support
- Build healthier team dynamics
- Manage workloads more effectively
Good management has a major impact on workplace wellbeing.
4. Support Remote and Hybrid Workers
Flexible working can improve wellbeing for many employees, but it can also create isolation and blurred boundaries between work and personal life.
Studios can support remote workers by:
- Encouraging healthy working hours
- Avoiding excessive after-hours communication
- Creating opportunities for social connection
- Holding regular non-work check-ins
- Ensuring remote employees feel included in decision-making
A connected team is a healthier team.
5. Provide Access to Mental Health Resources
Employees should know where to turn if they need support.
Studios can offer:
- Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs)
- Mental health first aiders
- Access to counselling services
- Wellbeing workshops
- Mental health days
- Clear signposting to external support organisations
Even small studios can provide helpful signposting and foster a supportive environment.
6. Encourage Healthy Work-Life Balance
Creative industries often attract highly driven people who struggle to switch off.
Leaders can model healthier habits by:
- Respecting boundaries outside working hours
- Encouraging annual leave usage
- Discouraging presenteeism
- Supporting flexible working arrangements
- Celebrating productivity rather than long hours
Rest is not a luxury – it is essential for creativity and long-term performance.
Mental Health Awareness Week is not about achieving perfection overnight. It is about starting conversations, identifying areas for improvement, and taking meaningful steps towards healthier workplaces.
Useful Resources
Empower Up has a host of advice and resources on mental health and wellbeing here – https://empower-up.com/topic/mental-health-wellbeing/
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Photo by Matthew Ball on Unsplash
