World Mental Health Day

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World Mental Health Day (WMHD) on 10th October is more than a date on the wellbeing calendar – it’s a chance to show your team that mental health isn’t just a buzzword.

With 1 in 4 people experiencing a mental health issue each year, and workplace stress and burnout on the rise, this year’s theme ‘Mental Health Is a Universal Human Right’ calls for action, not just awareness.

So how do you ensure World Mental Health Day feels genuine and not just a tick-box exercise? Below are five high-impact ideas that go beyond fruit bowls and flyers.

5 meaningful ways your workplace can mark World Mental Health Day:

01. Host a Mental Health Workshop

Run a live, expert-led session to help your team:

  • Understand mental health vs. mental illness
  • Spot early signs of distress or thriving
  • Build resilience and reframe negative thinking
  • Start empathetic conversations with confidence

Bonus: Pair it with breathwork or mindfulness for an instant wellbeing boost.

02. Run a Team Check-In

Create a safe, agenda-free space to ask: ‘How are you really doing?’ Use prompts like:

  • One word to describe your week
  • What’s helping your mental health right now?
  • What boundary could you set this month?

03. Create a Calm Zone

Transform a meeting room into a pop-up wellbeing space with:

  • Plants, soft lighting, herbal teas
  • Mindfulness prompts and colouring pages
  • Mini drop-ins like chair massage or guided breathing

Remote team? Send a ‘Calm-at-Home’ kit with a playlist, breathwork guide, or candle.

04. Share Lived Experience

Invite a colleague or guest speaker to share their mental health journey (optional and safe). Or signpost to podcasts and blogs from trusted sources like CALM or Mental Health UK.

05. Commit Beyond the Day

Use October 10th to launch, or to reinforce, your long-term strategy:

  • Introduce Mental Health First Aid training or refresh your MHFAiders [refresher training – half day – is recommended every three years and Lena can provide this]
  • Plan quarterly wellbeing workshops
  • Review burnout and psychological safety policies
  • Commit to training all line managers in Mental Health Awareness by year-end

Mental health shapes how we work, connect, and thrive. This World Mental Health Day show your teams how your organisation is continuoulsy fostering a culture that truly cares.

Lena specialises in delivering workplace wellbeing workshops that move the needle – not just tick the box.

Visit our training directory for some options/ideas for webinars, courses, or programmes you could potentially avail of.