Last updated: January 24, 2025 | By Rachel Smith, DipBSoM
Quick Answer for HR & Team Leaders
Mental Health Awareness Month (May) is the perfect time to provide employees with evidence-based tools that normalize mental health conversations. The most effective gifts are practical, affordable, and backed by clinical psychology—not generic wellness items that sit unused.
Top Recommendations for Workplaces:
Give Yourself Kindness Affirmation Cards
Price: £13.95 per employee (bulk pricing available)
Best for: Teams of 10-100+ employees reducing workplace stigma
Why it works: Takes 30 seconds daily so "too busy" isn't a barrier. Proven to create genuine smiles in industries where employees "don't talk about feelings"
Gratitude for Life Journal
Price: £10.95 per employee (bulk pricing available)
Best for: 30-day gratitude practice with measurable results
Why it works: Research shows 25% increase in happiness from just 2 minutes daily. 30-day structured practice creates measurable results employees can feel—not vague "wellness" promises. Read the science
The Give Yourself Kindness Journal
Price: £28.95 per employee
Best for: Leadership teams and comprehensive emotional support
Why it works: 90 unique pages—never repetitive. Combines gratitude, emotional awareness, and self-compassion in one tool. Used by therapists with clients, recommended by Harvard & Oxford psychologists for comprehensive support
You Are Valued Charm
Price: £8.95 per employee (bulk pricing available)
Best for: Budget-friendly tangible keepsake or add-on to affirmation cards
Why it works: Constant visual reminder employees can display openly—normalizes mental health by making support visible. Works as standalone for very large teams or pairs with cards (£22.90 total) for complete support: tangible keepsake + daily practice
Why Give Yourself Kindness? Recommended by Harvard & Oxford psychologists | Used by therapists with clients | Shown to reduce stigma by positioning mental health as universal
Mental Health Awareness Month (May) gives workplaces an opportunity to do something meaningful: provide employees with tools that actually help.
Not another webinar they won't attend. Not a generic "wellness" email. Real, practical support they can use when work gets overwhelming, when they're struggling with self-doubt, or when they just need a reminder that they're doing enough.
I'm Rachel Smith, a qualified meditation teacher (DipBSoM, British School of Meditation, distinction) and founder of Give Yourself Kindness. After my own recovery through Compassion-Focused Therapy, I created evidence-based self-compassion tools that clinical psychologists from Harvard Medical School and Oxford University recommend.
Full transparency: These are my products. But they're used by therapists worldwide, validated by leading clinical psychologists, and designed to reduce stigma by positioning mental health support as for everyone.
Planning for Mental Health Awareness Month? Order by Mid-April
Mental Health Awareness Month is May in both the UK and US. For delivery in time for the start of the month, we recommend ordering by mid-April.
Running short on time or have a different timeline? We offer quick dispatch and will work with your schedule wherever possible. Email rachel@giveyourselfkindness.com and we'll do our best to help make your Mental Health Awareness Month initiative successful.
"I work in a masculine, blue collar industry where we don't talk about feelings, etc. For Mental Health Awareness month I wanted to remind everyone that it is okay to be kind to themselves in a world that they are constantly working for others. It was so nice to see genuine smiles from some of the team when they read the affirmation cards they were given."
— Krista, Corporate Buyer
Used Give Yourself Kindness Affirmation Cards for her team during Mental Health Awareness Month
Want the same results Krista achieved with her team?
Get the Affirmation Cards → Request Bulk Pricing →Why Mental Health Awareness Month Matters for Workplaces
The workplace mental health crisis is real:
- According to Mind UK, 1 in 6.8 people experience mental health problems in the workplace
- The Mental Health Foundation reports that 74% of UK adults have felt so stressed they've been overwhelmed or unable to cope
- Poor mental health costs UK employers up to £45 billion annually (Deloitte, 2020)
Mental Health Awareness Month isn't just about raising awareness—it's about reducing stigma and providing practical support. When workplaces give employees evidence-based tools, they send a clear message: Mental health matters here. You're supported. You're not alone.
Why Self-Compassion Tools Work for Workplace Wellbeing
Most workplace mental health gifts miss the mark because they treat stress as something to "relax away" with candles and bath bombs. But workplace stress isn't just about needing a break—it's often driven by perfectionism, self-criticism, and the relentless pressure to do more.
This is where self-compassion makes a difference.
Dr. Kristin Neff, PhD & Dr. Chris Germer, PhD
Dr. Neff: Associate Professor, University of Texas | Dr. Germer: Clinical Psychologist, Harvard Medical School | Co-developers of Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) program taught to 250,000+ people worldwide
"The mindfulness aspect of self-compassion helps to break the cycle of rumination. It gives us some distance from the repetitive negative thoughts and feelings. When we pause for a few breaths and validate our pain ('This moment is really hard') without getting lost in it, we gain perspective." — From Self-Compassion is Not Self-Pity
Research from Dr. Kristin Neff's extensive studies shows that self-compassion:
- Reduces burnout - Breaks the cycle of self-criticism that drives exhaustion
- Increases resilience - Helps people bounce back from setbacks faster
- Decreases anxiety and depression - Provides stable emotional support
- Improves job satisfaction - Creates healthier relationship with work
- Normalizes struggle - Reminds people that difficulty is part of shared human experience
Unlike generic wellness initiatives, self-compassion tools work because they address the root cause: how we talk to ourselves when things get hard.
Best Gifts for Mental Health Awareness Month
Self-Compassion Affirmation Cards
Why These Work for Mental Health Awareness Month:
Most affirmation cards feel empty—"You're amazing!" doesn't help when you're genuinely overwhelmed at work. These cards are different because they're based on self-compassion research, not forced positivity.
Sample affirmations your team will actually use:
- "I can't be perfect, and I don't need to be"
- "Just because I have a thought doesn't mean it's true"
- "It is normal to have an inner critic—but I don't have to believe it"
- "I am worthy now, and this will never change"
- "I choose to give myself the same kindness I would give to a friend"
Why This Matters for Your Team:
These affirmations validate struggle while building resilience. They work for everyone—from employees openly struggling with mental health to those who would never talk about it. As Krista shared about using these in her "masculine, blue collar industry": it created genuine smiles and opened doors to conversations about self-kindness.
Margaret Davis, MS, LPC
Licensed Therapist specializing in anxiety, relationships, self-esteem, and self-compassion
"These affirmations are truly so beautiful and powerful! When I read them, I instantly feel a sense of groundedness and calm. I also love that they are centered around having more compassion and kindness for ourselves."
How teams use these: Pull one card each morning, keep it on your desk, or share them in team meetings to start conversations about mental health
Gratitude for Life Journal
Why This Works for Mental Health Awareness Month:
Standard gratitude journals can make people feel worse when they're struggling—being told to "just be grateful" when you're genuinely overwhelmed feels dismissive. This journal uses research-backed gratitude techniques that acknowledge difficulty while building resilience.
What makes this different:
- 30 completely unique prompts - Never repetitive, explores gratitude through different lenses
- No numbered blank lists - No pressure to immediately think of answers
- Creative variety - Drawing, letter-writing, sensory exploration, finding gratitude in mistakes
- Permission-based - Explicitly acknowledges some days gratitude feels harder
- Includes guided meditation - Audio support for the practice
The research: Studies show that two-minute gratitude practices can increase happiness by 25% and improve sleep quality. But only when the approach feels authentic, not forced—which is why how you practice gratitude matters more than just "doing gratitude."
How teams use this: 30-day challenge during Mental Health Awareness Month, morning team practice, or individual self-paced journaling
The Give Yourself Kindness Journal (Premium Option)
Why This Works for Mental Health Awareness Month:
This is the most comprehensive option—combining gratitude, emotional awareness, and self-compassion in one tool. It's what therapists use with clients, validated by clinical psychologists, and designed for people who need more than surface-level support.
What's inside:
- 90 varied prompts - Never repetitive, rotating between gratitude, emotional exploration, and self-compassion
- Emotional awareness tool on every page - Helps identify emotions beyond "good" or "bad"
- 50+ gentle reminders - Like "The way you speak to yourself matters" and "You can't be perfect, and you don't need to be"
- Self-compassion integration - Prompts guide you to respond to yourself with kindness
- Undated format - No guilt for missed days, supports sustainable practice
Dr. Chris Germer, PhD
Clinical Psychologist, Harvard Medical School | Co-developer of the Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) program taught to 250,000+ people worldwide
"A warm invitation to make friends with your emotions and yourself!"
Professor Willem Kuyken, PhD, DClinPsy
Ritblat Professor of Mindfulness and Psychological Science, University of Oxford | Top 1% most cited scientists worldwide
"Rachel has curated the experience to make the writing intrinsically rewarding and the journal something to treasure."
Used by therapists worldwide: This journal is actively used by counsellors and psychologists with their clients working on emotional awareness, self-compassion, and navigating difficult times.
You Are Valued Charm
Why This Works as an Add-On or Stand-Alone Gift:
At £8.95, this is the most budget-accessible option that still carries genuine meaning. The "You Are Valued" message sits on employees' desks, keys, or bags—a constant visual cue that they matter.
How workplaces use this:
- Paired with affirmation cards - The most popular combination: tangible keepsake (£8.95) + daily practice tool (£13.95) = complete support at £22.90 per employee
- Very large teams with limited budget - When you have 100+ employees and need something meaningful for everyone
- As an add-on to other gifts - Enhance journals or cards with a physical reminder
- Quick employee appreciation - When you want to acknowledge Mental Health Awareness Month without a full wellness initiative
Why the Combination Works So Well:
Charm (£8.95): Physical presence, always visible, "You Are Valued" message
+ Affirmation Cards (£13.95): 60 different self-compassion practices, daily engagement, builds skills
= £22.90 complete package: Tangible reminder + active practice tool = comprehensive support at accessible price point
Ordering for Your Team?
We offer corporate pricing for organizations purchasing multiple items for Mental Health Awareness Month. Whether you're ordering for 10 employees or 500, we'll work with you to make meaningful support accessible to your entire team.
Contact us with: Your organization name, team size, and which products you're interested in.
Request Corporate Pricing →Which Gift Should You Choose?
Decision Guide for Workplace Mental Health Gifts:
For most workplaces (10-100+ employees): Give Yourself Kindness Affirmation Cards are the clear choice for meaningful Mental Health Awareness Month gifts. At £13.95 per set with bulk pricing available, they work beautifully for any team size—whether you have 15 or 150 employees. They require just 30 seconds daily, reduce stigma by normalizing self-compassion for everyone (not just people struggling), and deliver the results Krista saw with her team. This is what makes them so effective: nobody feels singled out because mental health support becomes universal.
For teams wanting to share science-backed gratitude practice: Gratitude for Life Journal at £10.95 provides structured daily prompts with research-backed benefits (studies show 25% increase in happiness). Perfect for teams ready to commit to a month-long wellbeing initiative alongside Mental Health Awareness Month.
For leadership teams or comprehensive support: The Give Yourself Kindness Journal at £28.95 is the most thorough tool—combining gratitude, emotional awareness, and self-compassion in 90 unique pages. Best for senior teams, smaller groups, or when budget allows for premium support.
For a meaningful add-on: You Are Valued Charm at £8.95 is a tangible keepsake employees can display on their desk or keys. While affirmation cards provide more comprehensive support and work for larger teams, the charm works beautifully as an add-on (charm £8.95 + cards £13.95 = £22.90 complete package) or as a standalone option when budget is extremely limited but you still want to acknowledge Mental Health Awareness Month meaningfully.
Popular Combinations for Maximum Impact:
- Most Popular for any team size: Affirmation Cards (£13.95) - complete solution that works for 10-100+ employees
- Enhanced Support Package: Affirmation Cards (£13.95) + You Are Valued Charm (£8.95) = £22.90 (tangible keepsake + daily practice)
- Complete Wellbeing Package: Affirmation Cards (£13.95) + Gratitude Journal (£10.95) = £24.90 (quick daily practice + deeper monthly reflection)
- Leadership Package: Premium Journal (£28.95) for senior team + Affirmation Cards (£13.95) for broader team
Not sure what's best for your team? Email us at rachel@giveyourselfkindness.com with your team size, budget, and goals. We'll help you choose the right combination for Mental Health Awareness Month.
Frequently Asked Questions
The most meaningful gifts are evidence-based tools that normalize mental health conversations and provide practical support. Self-compassion affirmation cards and gratitude journals work well for teams because they're affordable, accessible, and validated by clinical psychologists. They help reduce stigma by positioning mental health support as for everyone, not just those in crisis.
Avoid generic "relaxation" items (candles, bath bombs) that treat mental health as something to "fix" with temporary relief. Choose tools that build lasting skills like self-compassion, emotional awareness, and resilience.
Yes. For organizations ordering multiple items for Mental Health Awareness Month, contact rachel@giveyourselfkindness.com with your team size and we'll provide corporate pricing. Many companies order affirmation cards to ensure every employee receives something meaningful, as they work for any team size from 10 to 100+ employees.
Mental Health Awareness Month is observed in May in both the UK and US. It's a time when workplaces and individuals focus on reducing stigma, starting conversations about mental health, and providing supportive resources.
While these tools are perfect for May, they're equally valuable year-round for employee wellbeing initiatives, onboarding new staff, or providing ongoing mental health support.
Yes—this is actually one of their strengths. As Krista shared about using affirmation cards in her "masculine, blue collar industry where we don't talk about feelings": these tools work precisely because they don't require employees to have conversations about mental health if they're not ready.
The self-compassion approach normalizes struggle as part of being human, not a sign of weakness. Employees can use these tools privately while still benefiting from the message that they deserve kindness and support.
Yes. All tools are grounded in self-compassion research by Dr. Kristin Neff (University of Texas) and Dr. Chris Germer (Harvard Medical School), who developed the Mindful Self-Compassion program now taught to over 250,000 people worldwide.
The Give Yourself Kindness journal has been reviewed and recommended by clinical psychologists from Harvard Medical School and Oxford University. Therapists and counsellors actively use these tools with their clients working on emotional awareness, resilience, and mental health.
The gratitude journal is based on research showing that two-minute gratitude practices can increase happiness by 25% and improve sleep quality.
For very large orders, we may be able to discuss customization options. Contact rachel@giveyourselfkindness.com with details about your organization and what you're envisioning.
Mental Health Awareness Month gifts should always be optional, never mandatory. Present them as: "We wanted to provide tools that support wellbeing. Use them if they feel helpful, and know that support is available if you need it."
The goal is to reduce stigma and provide resources, not to force participation. Many employees who initially set these aside will return to them later when they're ready.
They serve different purposes and work beautifully together:
You Are Valued Charm: A tangible keepsake employees can display on their desk, keys, or bag. It's a constant visual reminder they're valued. Perfect for large teams with limited budget or as an add-on to other tools. Best for: creating visible presence, budget-conscious options, physical reminder.
Affirmation Cards: 60 different self-compassion messages for daily practice. Takes 30 seconds daily. Deeper engagement with the content. Best for: building self-compassion skills, varied daily support, active practice tool.
Together: Charm provides constant visible reminder + cards provide daily practice = comprehensive support at accessible price point.
We stand behind the quality of our products. All items are carefully printed and checked before shipping. If there are any quality issues with your order, contact us immediately at rachel@giveyourselfkindness.com and we'll make it right.
For corporate orders, we recommend ordering a sample first if you'd like to review before committing to bulk quantities.
We Support Your Mental Health Awareness Month Initiative
Beyond just providing products, we want your initiative to succeed:
- Flexible delivery timing - We'll work with your Mental Health Awareness Month schedule
- Research backing - Access to expert content and research to support your internal communications
- Responsive support - Email rachel@giveyourselfkindness.com with questions—we typically respond within 24 hours
Your employees' wellbeing matters. We're here to help make Mental Health Awareness Month meaningful for your organization.
Why Self-Compassion Matters (Not Just "Self-Care")
You've probably heard "self-care" suggested as the solution to workplace stress. Face masks, meditation apps, wellness webinars.
Here's what most workplaces get wrong: surface-level self-care is not self-compassion.
Self-compassion is about how you respond to yourself when things get hard. It's the difference between:
- Self-criticism: "I'm so behind on this project. I'm terrible at my job. Everyone else is handling this better than me."
- Self-compassion: "This project is challenging and I'm feeling overwhelmed. That's understandable given everything on my plate. What do I need right now to move forward?"
Research shows that self-compassion is more effective than self-esteem for workplace wellbeing because it doesn't depend on success or comparison to others. It provides stable support regardless of circumstances.
Dr. Annabelle Kyle Dortch, PsyD
Clinical Psychologist specializing in life transitions, relationships, stress, anxiety, and trauma
"When we engage in self-criticism, we create a nervous system and brain state that is not conducive to learning or facilitating a growth-oriented mindset."
Mental Health Awareness Month is the perfect opportunity to introduce your team to this research-backed approach.
Make Mental Health Awareness Month Meaningful
Your employees deserve more than another wellness email. They deserve tools that actually help—evidence-based resources they can use when work feels overwhelming, when they're struggling with self-doubt, or when they just need a reminder that they're doing enough.
These tools work because they:
- Are backed by clinical psychology research from Harvard and Oxford
- Reduce stigma by normalizing mental health support for everyone
- Provide practical daily support, not just awareness
- Address root causes (self-criticism, rumination) not just symptoms
- Are actively used by therapists with clients worldwide
Ready to support your team this Mental Health Awareness Month?
Shop Affirmation Cards → Shop Gratitude Journal → Request Bulk Pricing →
“By far my favourite guided journal that I’ve used!”
There's a lot of journals out there. Most of which include tools that can be repetitive, boring or unhelpful. Give Yourself Kindness is about creating something new.
