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Breaking the stigma: Why mental health awareness matters more than ever

Our May campaign for Mental Health Awareness Month 2025, in conversation, in community, and in solidarity.

At Plenty of Stuff Studio, we believe good marketing is all about people. Real people. That is why this Mental Health Awareness Month in May just gone, we wanted to go beyond posts and platitudes. We launched a heartfelt campaign that explored the realities of mental health in business, in leadership, and in everyday life. Because behind every brand, every boardroom, every busy schedule, there is a human being navigating their own inner world.

Throughout May, we collaborated with incredible voices, some publicly, some behind the scenes; each bringing raw honesty, powerful insight, and personal experience to the conversation. We are proud to have worked with Stuart Morrison, Minds Anonymous, and Gareth Turner on a series of articles and interviews that aimed to open up space for vulnerability, resilience, and real talk.

Stuart Morrison: From breaking point to bright colours

Stuart Morrison, entrepreneur, speaker, and wearer of many hats (including a literal town crier's!), shared his deeply personal experience of reaching breaking point and finding hope again.

After losing both of his parents in the space of twelve months, Stuart's mental health hit a low in early 2024. When the NHS waitlist felt like a mountain too high to climb, he found the incredible charity Big Moose, who promised support within 24 hours and a qualified therapist within seven days. And they delivered.

Four therapy sessions changed Stuart's life. In his words:

"The product they gave me, my brain back, has allowed me to enjoy life again. It is like all of the colours are back up to where I know they are bright and saturated and fun and I can see the good stuff."

What makes Stuart's story even more powerful is what he did next. Grateful for the support he received, he started fundraising to give others the same opportunity. Initially aiming to fund four therapy journeys, and ending up helping seven people access life-changing support.

In our interview, Stuart talks openly about the pressure business owners face to have it all together and why it is vital to treat your mental health with the same urgency you would treat your physical health.

"If you are thinking, I just cannot deal with this. The weight is too much. Do not wait until something breaks. The moment you are struggling, it is not weak to say, "I need some help with what is going on here."

His story is a powerful reminder that quick, accessible, and stigma-free help does exist, and it can be transformative. Read more about it here.

Minds Anonymous: Sharing stories, finding strength

Next up was our partnership with Minds Anonymous, a peer-led mental health platform founded by Louisa "Wizzi" Magnussen, a powerhouse advocate for mental health and lived experience storytelling.

Together, we explored the value of talking. Just talking. Minds Anonymous offers a safe and anonymous space for people to share their personal experiences with mental illness. Their motto is simple but powerful: when we speak, we heal.

In our blog post, we discussed how organisations and individuals alike can benefit from platforms like these; not just by reading stories, but by contributing to the conversation. Everyone has a story. And when we listen without judgement, we remind people that they are not alone. Read more about it here.

As part of Mental Health Awareness Month 2025, Louisa and Kiana Douglin, Director of Plenty of Stuff Studio, sat down for a raw and relatable podcast episode about mental health in the workplace. Together, they unpacked what it means to carry the weight of an invisible illness into work every day, and how business leaders can create environments where psychological safety comes first.

"Just because someone seems high-functioning does not mean they are not battling something privately."

In this frank and honest conversation, the two business owners spoke not only as professionals, but as people…with lived experience. They shared their own journeys with mental illness and offered practical, human-first insights into how to manage symptoms, combat isolation, and support others.

"If one person listens and feels seen, it is worth it."

You can watch the full conversation now on YouTube or at https://mindsanonymous.com/. Whether you are a founder, a freelancer, a team member, or just someone navigating life, it is a reminder that vulnerability is not weakness. It is courage in action.

Redefining strength: Gareth Turner on men's mental health and business

Despite the progress made in recent years, men's mental health remains a subject too often weighed down by stigma. That silence is especially present in business and leadership. In our interview, we spoke to Gareth Turner, Chief Operating Officer at Signal Biz Hub, about what it really feels like to lead while struggling.

"It is so often that vulnerability gets equated with failure. And that leads us to avoid doing any of the emotions."

Gareth shared openly how business owners are expected to always hold it together, and how dangerous that can be. The pressures of running a business often come with emotional tolls that go unspoken: burnout, anxiety, and loneliness that never make it into the boardroom.

We talked about the toxic echo of phrases like "man up," and why the value of a man cannot and should not be tied to productivity. It is time to rewrite what strength looks like.

"Struggling does not make you weak. It makes you human."

Support networks, friends, colleagues, even casual conversations, can be the difference between isolation and relief. Gareth reminds us that leadership is not about pretending you are fine. It is about knowing when to ask for help, and creating environments where others feel safe to do the same.

You can read more about this here.

You are not alone, you are enough

Whether you are running a business, managing a team, freelancing solo, or just trying to get through the day...it is okay if it feels hard. You are allowed to ask for help. In fact, you deserve it.

We go to experts when we need advice on marketing, IT, and strategy. Mental health should be no different.

There are free resources out there. There are people who care. There is help; right now.

You are valuable. You are loved. You are enough. No job title or income bracket determines that. Just being human is enough.

Keep the conversation going

You can watch all of our Mental Health Awareness Month interviews on our YouTube channel, or read the full features on our blog. If this campaign resonates with you, please share it. Talk about it. Use it to check in on someone. Use it to check in on yourself.

This is not a one-month initiative. This is the start, or continuation, of a much-needed conversation.

Let us be the generation that talks openly about mental health. They support each other boldly. That redefines what strength truly means.

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Written by Kiana Douglin

Written on Friday, 6 June 2025

Kiana Douglin

Author/ Director, Plenty of Stuff Studio

Kiana draws on years of marketing experience, playing a key role in helping businesses grow and launching startups with effective marketing strategies and operations. Her background combines marketing expertise with skills in sales and events. Outside of work, she finds inspiration in nature-hiking in the mountains, chasing waterfalls, and traveling the world-while her love for poetry and music fuels her creative spirit.

Read more about our marketing team.