World Mental Health Day 2025: Date, Theme, History, Significance And More

Every year, World Mental Health Day is celebrated on Oct. 10 to underline the importance of psychological well-being. It is an essential part of a healthy life, yet stigma and misunderstanding often hamper discussions around it.

Across the globe, countless individuals live with conditions like anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder but remain silent due to fear of discrimination or lack of proper support. World Mental Health Day serves as a worldwide reminder each year to promote awareness, compassion, and better access to mental health services for everyone.

World Mental Health Day 2025 will be marked on Oct. 10.

The theme for World Mental Health Day 2025 is 'Mental health in humanitarian emergencies'. World Mental Health Day underlines the importance of mental health to overall well-being. The theme for this year draws attention to the pressing need to provide psychological and emotional support to those impacted by humanitarian crises.

"Crises such as natural disasters, conflicts, and public health emergencies cause emotional distress, with one in five individuals experiencing a mental health condition. Supporting the mental well-being of individuals during such crises is not just important – it saves lives, gives people the strength to cope, the space to heal and to recover and rebuild not only as individuals but as communities," says the World Health Organisation (WHO). 

Initiated by the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH), World Mental Health Day was first observed in 1992. Founded in 1948, the WFMH works to raise international awareness and enhance support for those living with mental and emotional health challenges.

Through the years, World Mental Health Day has grown into a significant global occasion, backed by bodies such as the WHO and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). Each year, it sheds light on pressing mental health issues through dedicated themes that encourage awareness and action worldwide.

Creating awareness around mental health is essential, as it allows communities to recognise how widespread these issues are and why early intervention matters. Across the world, countless individuals struggle with mental health, but many go without treatment because of social stigma or inadequate access to mental health services.