Since 1949, May has been recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month. This is a time set aside to raise awareness of mental health issues, decrease the stigma attached to mental illness, and encourage people to take care of their mental and emotional well-being. This Mental Health Awareness Month may be particularly important and more relevant than ever for many AFGE members, and we can’t be reminded enough to proactively take care of ourselves.
Recent consistently shows a concerning shift in how federal workers view themselves in terms of well-being. Federal workers today are more likely to use and choose words like “struggling” or even “suffering” over words like “thriving” to describe the state of their mental health. Overall, recent data shows that in just one year, the number of employees feeling like they are doing well has significantly dropped. Sadly, the number of federal workers who have said they are experiencing extreme stress and hardship has increased.
That’s why Mental Health Awareness Month matters more than ever for AFGE members and all federal workers. This year’s theme — More Good Days, Together — encourages everyone to reflect on what a good day looks like, both for ourselves and our wider communities. Harnessing this insight can help connect people to the right support at the right time, and shape advocacy, education, and community engagement to make more good days possible for all.
Below are some ways to consider supporting your own mental health journey as well as support others in theirs:
Pay Attention: First, pay attention to the signs in yourself and in others. Like the individuals who were honest in their descriptions of their well-being in the studies referred to above, we all must conduct an honest audit of how we really are doing. For example: constantly feeling irritable, overwhelmed, exhausted, or disconnected could be signs that something needs attention.
Use Available Resources: Many federal employees have access to Employee Assistance Programs, which offer free and confidential counseling, mental health support, and referrals to additional services. These programs are aimed at confidentially helping with issues such as stress, anxiety, burnout, family challenges, and financial concerns. Departments and agencies administer their own programs, so you should contact your human resources office or agency’s intranet site for details.
Find Your People: Talk to your coworkers, check in on each other, and find/identify the people in your world that you can create space for honest conversations. Isolation is often a natural tendency in moments of stress or uncertainty, and connecting with others can feel heavier than usual. But let’s remember that “stronger together” is not just a cliché, but it describes the power of community and connection.
Set and Honor Your Boundaries: Federal workers have some of the most important jobs in this country. Yes, the work is important, but so is your health. Think about what type of boundaries you might need to set to be in a better space mentally. This will look different for every person, but examples could include things like taking your full breaks instead of working through them, logging off when your day ends, and protecting your time with friends and family.
Attend a Webinar: In May 2025, AFGE launched a new webinar series in partnership with Kaiser Permanente and we’re continuing our mental health and well-being education efforts in 2026 with a new series of webinars. Upcoming sessions include Finding More Margin in Your Day; Ready, Set, Goal: Creating Healthy Habits; The Power of Social Connections and Your Health; Why Sleep Matters; and Find Your Joy. Click here to reserve your spot.
This Mental Health Month, let’s commit to taking care of ourselves and each other. Click here for more resources.
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