GENEVA, Switzerland | World Mental Health Day is being observed on October 10 with a call for governments and health services to listen to people who have experienced mental health conditions and give them a meaningful role in shaping policies, treatment and support systems.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has adopted the 2026 theme, “Lived experiences heard: real voices, real change,” emphasizing that listening must lead to concrete action, not merely provide people with an opportunity to share their stories. The campaign highlights the importance of involving people with lived experience in designing, implementing and evaluating mental health services.
The observance comes as the WHO urges countries to move away from long-term institutional care toward community-based mental health services that protect people’s dignity, rights and choices. On October 9, the organization released a practical guide to help countries support people leaving psychiatric hospitals and reintegrating into their communities, including through access to housing, health care, education, employment and family support.
Progress remains slow. WHO data show that only 9% of countries reporting to its Mental Health Atlas survey had fully transitioned to community-based mental health care, while 53% remained in the early stages of reform. The figures underscore the need for stronger services that allow people to receive care while remaining connected to their families and communities.
World Mental Health Day was first observed on October 10, 1992, through the initiative of the World Federation for Mental Health. It has since become an annual international occasion to raise awareness, challenge stigma and encourage action on mental health.
This year’s campaign calls for a shift from simply listening to people’s experiences to involving them in decisions that affect their lives. Mental health systems must be built with people who have lived experience, not merely for them, so that services better reflect the needs and realities of those they are intended to support.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
