What is World Mental Health Day?
World Mental Health Day is just around the corner. At AFTH, we want to acknowledge the importance of mental health and recognize its impact worldwide.
Celebrated every year on October 10, World Mental Health Day was created to raise global awareness about mental health. Established in 1992 by the World Federation for Mental Health, the goal is to educate, reduce stigma, and support the voices of people with personal experiences of mental health challenges.
The theme for 2026 is “Lived experiences heard: real voices, real change.” This theme focuses on ensuring people with lived experiences aren’t just asked to tell their stories, but are involved in shaping services, policies, and decisions that affect them.
One of the best ways to participate is to listen and share, join local events, and connect with resources.
Why is World Mental Health Day important?
Mental Health Day is incredibly important in spreading awareness and showing support for those going through mental health challenges. Mental health is an important part of overall well-being, and conversations about it can help people recognize when they or someone they care about may need support. Creating a supportive atmosphere and listening can help someone feel more comfortable or safe to open up about their emotions.
World Mental Health Day is important because it:
Reduces Stigma: Open conversations can challenge misconceptions and make it easier for people to feel comfortable sharing their experience.
Encourages people to listen: Mental health can be difficult for people to discuss. Listening without judgment and expressing your support can help others feel more comfortable.
Connects people with resources: Mental Health Day can help families, friends, individuals, and communities learn more about mental health services available.
Centers lived experiences: The 2026 theme encourages people to not only listen to people’s lived experiences but understand how valuable their knowledge is in helping shape mental health services and systems.
How to Help Yourself or Others
It’s important to listen to your body and recognize when you need to take a break. It can be difficult to recognize when it’s time to slow down, especially when life can get too busy, and we don’t always realize how much we’re carrying.
Self-care is an important habit that can help reduce stress, improve your mood, and help you recharge.
Self-care can look different for everyone. Physical habits such as taking a short walk, eating foods that support physical and mental energy, or getting enough sleep can support both your physical and mental well-being. Practicing meditation or breathing exercises, journaling, taking a break from your phone or social media, or doing things you enjoy like reading or painting can all provide an opportunity to slow down and reconnect with yourself.
It’s also important to look out for the people around us. If you or someone you know is struggling, listen without judgment, check in with them, and remind them they don’t have to navigate difficult experiences alone. Mental health can be difficult to navigate, and at times, it can feel overwhelming. It’s okay to feel lost, confused, or unsure of what to do next. Sometimes, simply knowing that someone cares and wants to listen can make a difference.
Important Resource: Books
Books for Children Books can be a helpful tool for supporting children’s mental health. Stories and activities can help children identify and express their emotions, feel less alone, and give caregivers an opportunity to start important conversations. Here are some books to explore:
The Invisible String by Patrice Karst
- A comforting story that helps kids cope with grief, separation anxiety, and the feeling of being connected to loved ones.
When My Worries Get Too Big! By Kari Dunn Buron
- Teaches young children how to recognize stress and use self-calming strategies.
A Heart That Holds It All: A Story of Adoption by Lauren Haas
- A book that expresses a full spectrum of emotions, rather than just focusing solely on joy.
What is Adoption?: Just for Kids by Jeanette Yoffee
- Uses adoption-competent mental health insights to address loss, emotional regulation, and family separation.
Adopted and Wondering: Drawing Out Feelings by Marge Eaton Heegaard
- Art therapy workbook that helps children express their emotions when words are too hard to find.
What to Do When You Worry Too Much by Dawn Huebner
- An interactive guide to help kids overcome general anxiety and worries.
You Are Not Alone for Parents and Caregivers by Dr. Ken Duckworth
- A guide that navigates a child’s mental health challenges and finding professional support.
How Does World Mental Health Day Connect to Adoption?
Adoption is a lifelong experience that can bring a wide range of emotions for everyone involved. While every adoption story is different, all members may experience feelings of grief, loss, joy, uncertainty, connection, identity, or belonging at different points in their lives. It’s important to create safe spaces where people can talk openly about their experience, helping them feel heard, understood, and supported.
For adoptees, questions about identity, family history, belonging, and their adoption story may arise at different stages of life. Having opportunities to express their feelings, ask questions, and connect with others who understand adoption can be an important part of emotional well-being. Every adoptee’s experience is unique, and giving them a space to share their own story without judgment can help them feel supported and understood.
At Adoptions From The Heart, we offer resources that can help all members of the adoption triad seek support. Support groups, counseling, educational programs, and opportunities to connect with others can provide a place to listen, share stories, and find community among others going through the same process.
Final Thoughts
World Mental Health Day is an opportunity to pause, check in with ourselves and the people around us, and remember that mental health deserves the same care and attention as our physical health.
Seeking support, listening to others, or engaging with different resources can help us better understand our own experiences, and those of the people around us. Whether it’s taking time for self-care, starting a conversation, or reaching out for professional support, every step can make a difference.
You don’t have to figure it all out alone. Like AFTH, there are so many organizations, services, and resources that can help make navigating mental health a little less challenging. This World Mental Health Day, let’s take time to listen, learn, and remind ourselves and others that support is available when we need it.
