Mental Health Awareness Week from the Mental Health Foundation takes place this year on 9-15 May 2022 and is an important time for schools and communities to reflect on how we are all feeling and what we can do to improve our wellbeing and that of the children and people around us.
That's why we are holding a #Take10ToRead moment at 10am on Tuesday 10 May 2022 and we encourage schools, communities and businesses across the nation to stop what you are doing and read for 10 minutes together!

The research
Our research shows us that reading can be an effective way of helping people take care of their mental health and wellbeing - and it only takes 10 minutes a day to see the benefits! Reading every day can help everyone - children, young people and adults - to:
- Relax, unwind and boost their mood
- Escape from the pressures of life and reduce their stress levels
- Improve your memory and concentration
This year's Mental Health Awareness Week theme is loneliness: research from Quick Reads investigated how reading impacts our ability to connect to others finding that reading for just 30 minutes a week means you’re 52% more likely to feel socially included than those who have not read in the past week and 72% more likely to have greater community spirit. Readers are also 37% more likely to get greater pleasure out of their social lives."
Check out some of our tips and ideas below to inspire your school or organisation to #Take10ToRead every day and support their wellbeing this Mental Health Awareness Week and beyond.