Theme: Lived experiences heard: real voices, real change
Importance of Celebrating World Mental Health Day
World Mental Health Day is an important day celebrated annually every 10th October. This day provides an opportunity for people to learn, raise awareness and reduce stigma of mental health issues around the world and to mobilize efforts in support of mental health. The day was first observed in 1992 and has been celebrated annually since.
World Mental Health Day Theme for 2026
World Mental Health Day is an opportunity to meaningfully engage with people with lived experience (PWLE) of mental health conditions and to recognize their knowledge as an important form of expertise. This year, World Mental Health Day calls to ensure their voices shape the services, policies and decisions that affect their lives.
Lived experience comes from personal experiences of mental health conditions and seeking, receiving, or being unable to get enough care and support. Lived experience of mental health conditions takes many different forms. No one person can speak for everyone. PWLE bring knowledge that cannot be gained from research or professional training alone. Their expertise is essential to help mental health systems identify what needs to change.
Oftenly, PWLE are asked to share their stories but are excluded from decisions. Meaningful engagement extends beyond simply being heard. On this day, we recognize that listening to, involving and learning from PWLE is essential to creating mentally healthy, supportive,and inclusive spaces.
African context
Involvement of PWLE in mental health systems across Africa, has started to shift from tokenism to active, community-driven, co-creation of programs:
- PWLE are being integrated into the full research cycle; from formulation to data analysis, in major initiatives like the Mental Health Data Prize Africa led by the African Population and Health Research Center.
- Rather than relying solely on Westernized clinical psychiatry, African innovations have embedded PWLE and community members directly into care delivery through programs such as the Friendship Bench in Zimbabwe which has empowered local grandmothers to deliver evidence-based talk therapy in clinics and communities.
- Engagement through story telling is one of the fastest growing and culturally relevant trends for PWLE involvement in Africa. Organizations such as the Artistic Psychologist, Mental Voices Africa and Heart to Heart Spaces, provide platforms for PWLE to share their stories.
- Peer led organizations are shifting PWLE from passive recipients of care into executive leaders and system designers in organizations such as Rauka Afrika.
Call to Action
There are a lot of simple ways to get involved:
Participate in events. Attend awareness webinars, educational workshops, or community walks organized around mental health advocacy.
Listen to lived experiences. Create a safe and respectful space where those who feel comfortable can share their experiences and be heard.
Promote available support. Share mental health resources to those who may need it.
Connect with someone. Reach out to a friend, a family member, or a colleague to offer or have an open, non-judgemental conversation with.