World Mental Health Day takes place every year on 10 October.
It’s a reminder of the importance of good mental health and the need to prioritise and invest in good mental health.
The theme in 2025 was Access to services - mental health in catastrophes and emergencies. The theme highlighted the importance of people being able to protect their mental health in times of global instability.
In 2025 we focused on the mental health impact of repeated exposure to news coverage of crises and conflicts.
The world is going through a tough time right now and even if you're not directly affected by events, it can still feel like a lot to cope with.
We may not have the power to influence or change everything we’d like to on a global scale. But there are things we can do to protect ourselves and others from feeling overwhelmed and hopeless in the face of current events.
When global events and relentless bad news becomes too much
Doomscrolling: tips for healthier news consumption
Resources for World Mental Health Day
- Download our posters and social media graphics and share them to help spread the word. Join us in raising awareness about mental health on social media by following us on Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn.
- Check out our free tip sheets for advice on doomscrolling, managing feelings of overwhelm and more. We've got copies in English and Welsh and they're free to download and share.
- Up for an active challenge? Physical activity has lots of benefits for our mental health - helping manage stress, build confidence, lift mood, and ease symptoms of anxiety and depression. Take part in a run, cycle, trek or skydive to raise money for the Mental Health Foundation and help everyone have better mental health.
- Subscribe to our email newsletter to get tips on looking after your mental health, ways you can join the fight for better mental health and be the first to hear about our latest content.
Free downloads
Posters
Use our PDF posters to raise awareness and promote what you're doing to get involved.
Social media graphics
Use our social media graphics to raise awareness and share the campaign online.
Tea and Talk
Research shows that talking is good for your mental health, and that’s what Tea & Talk is all about! We've got loads of resources to make your event a success, any day of the year!
Get involved
Tip sheets and advice
Download and share our free tip sheets for advice on how to manage when it all feels too much.
- Purple doomscrolling tips: English / Purple doomscrolling tips: Cymraeg
- White doomscrolling tips: English / White doomscrolling tips: Cymraeg
- Purple overwhelm tips: English / Purple overwhelm tips: Cymraeg
- White overwhelm tips: English / White overwhelm tips: Cymraeg
- Purple affirmation cards: English/ Purple affirmation cards: Cymraeg
- White affirmation cards: English/ White affirmation cards: Cymraeg
Talking about mental health
World Mental Health Day is a great opportunity for us to come together to talk about mental health and show everyone that is matter.
Talking is good for your mental health. And talking about mental health is important. But starting a conversation isn’t always easy. Whether you’d like to talk to someone about how you’re feeling, or check-in with someone you care about, here are some tips that can help.
1. Choose someone you trust to talk to
This might be a friend, family member or a colleague. Or you might be more comfortable talking to someone you don’t know, for example, through a support helpline. It can help to do a pros and cons list about talking to someone.
2. Think about the best place to talk
It’s important to choose a place where you feel comfortable enough to open-up. You might want to choose somewhere private where you’re less likely to be disturbed. You also might want to talk while you do an activity, like walking together.
3. Prepare yourself for their reaction
Hopefully, you will have a good experience when you open-up to someone. But there’s a chance that they may not react in the way you hope. This may be for different reasons, like they may be worried or not fully understand at first. If that’s the case, try to give them time to process what you’ve told them. It might help to give them information to read to help them understand. And don’t forget to be kind to yourself and practise self-care.
1. Find a good space to talk without distractions
If you’re worried about someone, try to find a place where you know you can have a conversation without being distracted. Make sure to give them your full attention. It might help to switch off your phone.
2. Listen and ask questions
Listening can be one of the most valuable ways to be there for someone. Show them that you’re actively listening by facing them, making eye contact, and not interrupting. Questions can help you clarify what they mean and also show that you’re actively listening. But make sure the questions are relevant to what they’re saying, and not changing the subject.
3. Ask how you can help
Ask how you can help or make suggestions, rather than telling them what to do next. They might want support with making a GP appointment, help around the house, or just for you to keep things normal and chat about what’s going on in your life.
The theme each year is set by the World Health Organisation. The overall objective is to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and to mobilize efforts in support of mental health. It's an opportunity for all stakeholders working on mental health issues to talk about their work, and what more needs to be done to make mental health care a reality for people worldwide.