World Mental Health Day 2025
At its heart, archaeology is about people. It’s about exploring the past through the lens of the present and connecting with the stories, places, and communities that have shaped who we are. It’s also about curiosity and creativity, and those moments of calm and connection that can do so much for our mental health.
Today, we're sharing a selection of the wellbeing resources created for the 2025 Festival of Archaeology, created to inspire reflection, creativity, and connection through archaeology.
The Mindful Museum of You
If you’re looking for a few minutes of calm today, try the Mindful Museum of You, created by Chris Jeavons, a postgraduate researcher at the University of Leicester.
Chris’ work explores how museum objects can help us practice mindfulness, encouraging us to pause, notice the details, and find meaning in the things around us. In this short guided exercise, he invites you to take a mindful moment with an object from your own life, helping you relax and reconnect with the present.
This Is Archaeology: Open Doors and Open Minds
As part of our This Is Archaeology series, Wessex Archaeology shared a thought-provoking talk: Open Doors and Open Minds: Why Archaeology is Good for People, and Why People Are Good for Archaeology.
In this session, Arran Johnson and Natasha Bramall discussed how archaeology can be a powerful force for good, bringing people together, building stronger communities, and inspiring social change.
They explored how inclusive, co-created projects can make archaeology more accessible and relevant to everyone, while tackling issues like inequality and isolation. Their message is clear: archaeology isn’t just about uncovering the past, it’s about connecting people today.
Archaeology Explore
Sometimes, the best way to look after our wellbeing is to get outdoors and reconnect with the landscapes around us.
Our Archaeology Explore platform makes that easier than ever. We’ve pulled together a collection of guided walks and heritage spots from across the UK, highlighting the incredible archaeology hidden in our everyday surroundings.
You can also follow many of these routes from home through our videos, which bring these landscapes and their stories to life wherever you are.
Archaeology and Wellbeing Resource Pack
To celebrate this year’s Festival of Archaeology, the Young Archaeologists’ Club (YAC) has put together a bumper resource pack all about archaeology and wellbeing.
It’s packed with hands-on activities designed to spark curiosity and creativity. You can explore the crafts and communities of Taiwan, design your own East African-inspired necklace, or create an island myth of your own. There are also activities that invite you to look closer to home, exploring your local heritage, your surroundings, your pets, and even your own story.
The pack was co-created by young people for young people, developed by the CBA’s Youth Advisors and student placements. Together, they’ve created something really special: a free, creative set of resources for anyone aged 8-16.
More Resources
If you’re interested in exploring how archaeology and wellbeing connect, here are a few more ways to get inspired:
Whether you’re joining a YAC activity, watching a This Is Archaeology talk, or simply spending time reflecting on the things that matter to you, archaeology offers a space for connection and reflection. Through archaeology, we rediscover connections to people, places, and stories that can help us feel grounded.
This World Mental Health Day, let’s take inspiration from the past to build a kinder, more connected, and more mindful present
