This Mental Health Awareness Week, 11 – 17 May 2026, NHS Ayrshire & Arran is highlighting its ongoing and wide‑ranging commitment to staff wellbeing all year round.
The organisation is committed to ensuring staff feel valued, supported and able to thrive in their roles. Throughout Mental Health Awareness Week, staff can take part in a programme of activities designed to support staff wellbeing and encourage open conversations about mental health.
Tracy Scott, Staff Wellbeing Lead for NHS Ayrshire & Arran, said, “We have a range of activities available to staff during Mental Health Awareness week. There are session on taking care of ourselves, spiritual care for staff, wellbeing for working parents, mental health matters, stress awareness, meditation, supporting financial wellbeing, supporting yourself and each other.
“These initiatives recognise that our mental wellbeing is influenced by a wide range of factors, including emotional, physical, spiritual and financial health.”
The support for staff wellbeing extends far beyond awareness weeks, NHS Ayrshire & Arran is proud to be the first health board in Scotland to establish dedicated Staff Wellbeing Centres, at University Hospitals Crosshouse and Ayr, as well as Ayrshire Central Hospital.
These centres provide all clinical and non‑clinical staff with calm, non‑clinical spaces to relax, decompress and recharge during the working day. They offer a quiet sanctuary where staff can access services, including spiritual care, staff psychology, staff care, peer support and medical peer support, helping to mitigate the emotional, physical and personal challenges staff can face.
Medical Director for NHS Ayrshire & Arran, Dr Crawford McGuffie, added, “It is important that our staff are supported to remain well so they can continue to provide care to our citizens. We all do difficult jobs and face sustained pressures day to day and this is a very important part of our well-being response to support colleagues in their emotional and physical wellbeing.
“By recognising Mental Health Awareness Week and investing in long‑term wellbeing support, NHS Ayrshire & Arran continues to demonstrate its commitment to caring for the people who care for others.”
Pictured above: One of the Staff Wellbeing Centre’s at University Hospital Ayr.