Every year on 10 October, World Mental Health Day brings people around the world together to raise awareness of mental health and encourage positive change.
This year’s campaign, “Lived experiences heard: real voices, real change”, focuses on the importance of listening to people who have experienced mental health challenges themselves. People with lived experience can offer valuable insight into what support feels like, what can help, and what barriers people face.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recognises lived experience as an important form of expertise. This year’s campaign encourages us to go beyond simply listening to people’s stories and instead create meaningful opportunities for people with lived experience to help shape the policies and decisions that affect them.
It is a simple idea that makes a lot of sense. If we want to improve mental health support, we should listen to the people who have experienced it.
This does not only apply to healthcare services. In our workplaces, communities and everyday lives, we can all make more space for people to talk about their experiences, listen without judgement and be willing to learn from different perspectives.
World Mental Health Day is also an opportunity to learn more, start conversations and help raise awareness. Both the WHO and official mental health organisations provide trusted information and resources that can be used and shared with friends, family, colleagues and within our communities.
How you can get involved:
• Read and share trusted information about mental health
• Take the time to listen to people sharing their lived experiences
• Use official resources to help start conversations and raise awareness
• Share World Mental Health Day materials in your workplace or community
• Donate or fundraise for a mental health organisation if you are able to
For anyone who would like to support this work further, donations help mental health organisations continue providing information and resources, raising awareness and working towards better mental health for everyone.
Donation link to Mental Health Foundation here
Donation link to Mind mental health charity here
Resources
https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-mental-health-day/2026
https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240073074
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work/campaigns/world-mental-health-day