Oct. 10 is World Mental Health Day, which is a day to spread awareness about mental health issues and mobilize efforts to support mental health, advocate for change, and reduce stigma. This year, for World Mental Health Day in 2025, is ‘Access to services- mental health in catastrophes and emergencies’. This year’s theme focuses on the mental health challenges that arise during events like natural disasters, humanitarian crises, or conflicts, accessibility of services to everyone, even in the most difficult circumstances, and protecting caregivers who work on the front lines during these kinds of crises.
How to spread awareness about mental health? You can openly talk about mental health to normalize the subject, educate others on symptoms and resources, share personal stories to reduce stigma, use social media for outreach, organize or participate in awareness events and fundraisers, encourage seeking help, and advocate for supportive policies.
Ways to get involved in mental health awareness are by registering for NAMIWalks, which is a national series of fundraising walks organized by the National Alliance on Mental Illness to raise money for its mission of providing mental health support, education, and advocacy, and to combat mental health stigma. By participating, you join a nationwide effort to value mental health and promote compassion and understanding for those affected by mental illness. How to join if you’re interested is by visiting the NAMIWalks website to find upcoming events happening around your area.
Some ways you can improve mental health are by prioritizing physical health, such as getting regular exercise and sleep, connecting with others through strong relationships and social support, practicing stress management techniques like meditation, finding a sense of meaning and purpose, often through hobbies or goals, and seeking professional help when needed. Some other self-care tips include getting regular exercise, even if it’s just 30 minutes, eating regular meals, staying hydrated, eating healthy, getting enough sleep, trying to do relaxing activities, focusing on staying positive, and staying connected.
