Every year on 10th October, the world unites to mark World Mental Health Day. in the blog we are teaching you how to help someone on world mental health day. For some, it’s a reminder to check in with themselves and loved ones. For others, it’s an opportunity to push for better access to services, more compassionate workplaces, and a stronger culture of openness around mental wellbeing.
The day is organised by the World Federation for Mental Health and supported by the World Health Organization (WHO). It has been recognised since 1992, and each year carries a theme designed to highlight a pressing issue. The 2025 theme, “Access to services – mental health in catastrophes and emergencies”. This theme highlights the importance of safeguarding the mental health of both communities and those who provide services during crises.
But what does that really mean for individuals, families, schools, and workplaces? And how can we use this day not just as a symbol, but as a catalyst for real change?
Understanding Mental Health
Mental health is often misunderstood or oversimplified. Many people still associate it only with diagnosed conditions
such as depression, anxiety disorders, or schizophrenia. While these are significant aspects, mental health is much broader. It’s about how we think, feel, and behave on a daily basis.
Just as our physical health can fluctuate, so too can our mental health. Stress, loss, financial worries, loneliness, trauma, and even everyday pressures can take a toll. At the same time, positive relationships, purpose, rest, and healthy coping strategies can strengthen our resilience.
Importantly, mental health is not an “on/off switch”. It exists on a spectrum. On one end, someone may be thriving with strong wellbeing and resilience. On the other, someone may be struggling to get out of bed due to severe depression. Most of us will move up and down this spectrum at different times in our lives.
Recognising this spectrum helps us to see that mental health matters for everyone, not just those with diagnosed conditions.
Why Mental Health Matters
Mental health has an impact on every area of life:
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Relationships: When we are struggling, it can affect how we connect with friends, family, and colleagues. Isolation and conflict often grow when mental health is neglected.
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Work and education: Anxiety, stress, and burnout are leading causes of absence in workplaces and schools. Mental health support is not just compassionate – it’s practical and essential for productivity and learning.
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Physical health: Poor mental health can manifest physically. Sleep disruption, fatigue, weakened immune systems, headaches, and chronic illnesses often have a mental health component.
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Quality of life: Perhaps most importantly, mental health determines how much we can enjoy life, feel fulfilled, and pursue our goals.
By ignoring mental health, we are ignoring a huge part of what makes us human.
Breaking the Stigma
One of the biggest barriers to better mental health outcomes has always been stigma. For generations, people were told to “pull themselves together” or “keep it quiet” when they were struggling. This silence created shame and isolation, preventing people from accessing the help they desperately needed.
Fortunately, things are changing. Campaigns, media coverage, and public figures speaking openly about their own struggles have chipped away at the stigma. Younger generations, in particular, are often more open and willing to talk about their mental health.
However, stigma is still present. People may still fear being judged, overlooked for promotions, or seen as weak. In some cultures and communities, discussing mental health remains taboo. World Mental Health Day helps us remember that silence only deepens struggles – compassion, empathy, and listening help to heal them.
Mental Health in the Workplace
Workplaces have a huge role to play. Most adults spend a large portion of their lives at work, so the environment and culture can dramatically affect wellbeing.
Stress, long hours, unrealistic demands, and lack of flexibility can all lead to burnout. The WHO has even classified burnout as an occupational phenomenon, recognising the toll of unrelenting stress at work.
On the other hand, supportive workplaces, where managers check in, mental health is openly discussed, and policies support wellbeing, can transform lives. They don’t just reduce absenteeism; they increase engagement, loyalty, and productivity.
Practical steps workplaces can take include:
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Offering mental health first aid training.
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Encouraging regular breaks and manageable workloads.
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Creating safe spaces for conversations without judgment.
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Building flexibility into schedules to support work-life balance.
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Promoting Employee Assistance Programmes or counselling services.
When mental health becomes part of workplace culture, it benefits both employees and the organisation as a whole.
Mental Health in Schools and Families
Children and young people are not exempt from mental health struggles. In fact, they are often at greater risk. The pressures of academic performance, social media, bullying, and navigating identity can all create stress and anxiety.
For parents and educators, spotting the signs early is crucial. Changes in behaviour, withdrawal, mood swings, or loss of interest in activities can all be indicators. Open communication, routine, and safe environments can make a significant difference.
Schools can support pupils by:
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Training staff to recognise and respond to signs of poor mental health.
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Embedding wellbeing practices into daily routines.
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Encouraging kindness, inclusivity, and peer support.
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Offering access to counsellors or external services.
For families, prioritising mental health means creating homes where children feel safe to express themselves, where routines offer security, and where listening is just as important as speaking.
What We Can All Do – How to Help Someone on World Mental Health Day
World Mental Health Day is a reminder that improving mental health is not only the job of professionals. Each of us has the power to make a difference; for ourselves and others.
Here are some practical steps:
For Yourself
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Prioritise rest: Sleep is one of the biggest foundations of mental health.
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Stay active: Exercise boosts endorphins and reduces stress.
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Build balance: Make time for hobbies, relaxation, and connection.
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Seek help early: Don’t wait until things feel overwhelming. Talking to a GP, counsellor, or trusted friend can be the first step to recovery.
For Others
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Check in regularly: Ask colleagues, friends, and family how they’re doing. Go beyond “I’m fine.”
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Listen without judgment: Sometimes, listening is more powerful than advice.
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Encourage professional support: Gently signpost people to resources if needed.
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Challenge stigma: If you hear dismissive or harmful comments, speak up.
For Communities and Organisations
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Run awareness campaigns or events.
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Provide training for staff or volunteers.
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Ensure policies protect mental wellbeing.
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Promote inclusivity and belonging.
Looking Ahead
The importance of mental health will only continue to grow. The modern world brings both opportunities and challenges, from technology that connects us globally, to the pressures of fast-paced lifestyles and constant comparison.
World Mental Health Day serves as an annual checkpoint: a reminder to pause, reflect, and recommit to creating a society that values wellbeing. But its message should extend beyond a single day.
If we truly want mental health to be recognised as a universal human right, we must work towards:
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Accessible services – regardless of income, background, or location.
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Compassionate workplaces and schools – where people feel safe to be themselves.
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Stronger support networks – so no one feels alone in their struggles.
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Ongoing education and awareness – to break down stigma for good.
Final Thoughts
World Mental Health Day is more than an awareness campaign. It is a call to action for every one of us. It challenges governments to invest in services, workplaces to care for their staff, schools to nurture children’s wellbeing, and communities to be more compassionate.
But on a personal level, it challenges each of us to be more open, kinder, and supportive – both to ourselves and to others.
Remember:
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It’s okay not to be okay.
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Reaching out for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.
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Small acts of kindness and listening can have life-changing impacts.
This World Mental Health Day, let’s not just talk about mental health. let’s take steps, however small, to improve it. By doing so, we create a culture where everyone feels valued, supported, and understood.
you can access more info here; https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work/public-engagement/world-mental-health-day
Why become trained in Mental Health First Aid? How to Help Someone on World Mental Health Day
Attending a mental health course will help you to realise just how
widespread the problem can be for individuals who are affected by poor mental health, as well as create a new perspective on all of the ways it can affect their lives. Knowing more about poor mental will not only reduce stigma but get people talking without judgement. Talking more reduces the signs and symptoms but reduces the chances of mental health becoming a diagnosable mental health illness.
We have courses online delivered via zoom, or in our classroom at Brownhills. If you have a group of staff need training to become Mental Health First Aiders we can come to your classroom on site.
To view our open courses please click here; Mental Health First Aid
Contact us
Call us on 01543 453338 or email at info@hmbtrainingservices.co.uk
