Today is World Mental Health Day (WMHD) 2025.
I believe that it would be great if everyone was more aware of mental health every day. There is so much scope for it to be discussed more openly. Some of the stigma needs to be reduced and for those with issues to feel more comfortable seeking help. It’s common for us to discuss each other’s physical health issues and to receive support from our friends and family. But too often mental health issues are not readily acknowledged, discussed and supported. If there was greater awareness of mental health, how issues arise, and how they are treated, I think we could really start to bring mental health out of the shadows and into the open.
To support WMHD 2025, I have decided to share a few campaigns from leading organisations. They champion the need for greater awareness of mental health and the challenges of maintaining adequate support for those who need it against the pressure of difficult world events.
The World Federation for Mental Health theme for WMHD 2025
The official theme for World Mental Health Day (WMHD) 2025 is decided annually by The World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH). This year, they have chosen to focus on ‘Access to Services – Mental Health in Catastrophes and Emergencies’
This theme seems very relevant when there are many challenging issues to deal with globally. At a time of several international disasters, shining a focus on the mental impact of these events is necessary. This is especially the case as up to 1/3 of people affected by disasters may experience significant mental health issues1.
UN Migration focus on mental health as a human right
This video below is part of the campaign from UN’s migration’s agency, the IOM (International Organisation’s for Migration). It’s short but powerful. You’ll see they highlight how helping people heal mentally is an essential part of recovery from humanitarian crises, together with the difficulties of falling mental health resources.
Mind’s campaign for WMHD 2025
The WMHD campaign from Mind encourages us to understand that mental health is not a one day event. Rather they say ‘it’s every moment of every day’2. Their impactful campaign video showcases Francesca’s story. Francesa shares how her mental health issues began after a frightening sailing accident. She turned to self-harm and developed an eating disorder whilst battling with inadequate support from the healthcare system. Eventually she found Mind whilst searching the internet for help. With their encouragement, she has made improvements to her mental wellbeing. Learning about other people’s mental health challenges was helpful to her so she has now shared her own journey. You can read Francesca’s story here.
Mental Health Foundation’s help for those impacted by negative news
The Mental Health Foundation have taken the WFMH’s theme and decided to focus on the mental health impact of repeated exposure to news coverage of crises and conflicts. People often speak to me about the negative impact of being bombarded by bad news via the media. The Foundation has written a help sheet containing guidance about what to do if you feel affected by international events and the continual stream of difficult news. I’m sharing their sheet below and you can also access it here.
Taking care, one day at a time
World Mental Health Day is an important reminder of how vital it is that we talk about mental health openly and ensure support is available for everyone, everywhere. I hope the resources shared here from Mind, the Mental Health Foundation, and the IOM offer helpful perspectives and reassurance. My aim in sharing them is to encourage reflection, awareness, and access to tools that can help you care for your own wellbeing — not just today, but throughout the year.
If you’re feeling affected by world events, by the news, or by your own personal challenges, please know that it’s okay to pause and seek support. Looking after our mental health isn’t about perfection; it’s about taking small, steady steps toward understanding and balance, one day at a time. If you’d like to explore these themes further or feel that talking might help, I offer a calm, supportive space where we can work together to understand what you need right now.
1 World Mental Health Day (2025). https://wmhdofficial.com [Accessed 08/10/2025]
2 Mind (2025). World Mental Health Day. https://files.digital.nhs.uk/30/533217/HSE19-Eating-disorders-rep.pdf [Accessed 08/10/2025]
