World Mental Health Day — Let’s Talk, Listen, Act

Today is World Mental Health Day — Let’s Talk, Listen, Act

Every year on 10 October, the world pauses to reflect on mental health: its impact, its challenges, and how we as individuals, communities and organisations can do better.

The theme for World Mental Health Day 2025 is “Access to services — mental health in catastrophes and emergencies.” This highlights how, in times of crisis, whether natural disasters, conflict, public health emergencies or other disruptions, mental health needs are often magnified, yet services become harder to access or weaken.

This is not just a “day of awareness”, it’s a call to action. At KNW, we believe mental health matters every day. Today, we want to share why mental health is central to wellbeing, challenge some misconceptions, and remind our community about how we support this, including through our Mental Health First Aid training.

Why Mental Health Matters

• Mental health is health. We often separate “mental” and “physical” health in our minds, but they are deeply interconnected. Ignoring one puts pressure on the other.
• Crisis amplifies vulnerability. In emergencies, the strain on mental wellness is acute. People face loss (of home, security, loved ones), displacement, uncertainty — and often with fewer supports.
• Early detection helps. Many mental health challenges manifest gradually — stress, withdrawal, changes in sleep or appetite, rising anxiety. Recognising early signs and intervening (or signposting to help) can make a significant difference.
• Stigma remains a barrier. Many people hesitate to speak up or seek support for fear of judgment. That silence often compounds suffering.
• Communities and workplaces matter. For many, a large part of life is at work, in school, in social circles or community groups. Having environments that are open, understanding and equipped to support mental wellbeing can transform outcomes.

What Is Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) — and Why It Helps

One of the most tangible ways we can help is by improving mental health literacy: knowing how to recognise signs, how to speak supportively, and where to signpost people to further help. That’s exactly what Mental Health First Aid training is for.

MHFA is an internationally recognised, evidence-based training programme that equips participants with:

• The knowledge to recognise warning signs of common mental health issues (e.g. anxiety, depression, panic, trauma).
• A structured approach (a “first aid action plan” or support framework) to help someone in distress. Listening non-judgmentally, encouraging professional help, and self-care.
• Skills to reduce stigma and promote open, supportive conversations.
• Confidence to act in crisis or to guide someone toward further resources. It’s important to emphasise: MHFA does not teach you to be a therapist or clinician. It gives practical, first-response tools, like first aid, aimed at helping people until professional support can be engaged.

In the UK, accredited MHFA courses are offered through bodies such as MHFA England. Typical face-to-face courses are over two days (or split modules online), culminating in a qualification (often valid for 3 years).

How KNW Supports Mental Health and How You Can Get Involved

At KNW, mental wellbeing is not an afterthought, it’s part of our values. Here are a few ways we support and encourage wellbeing:

1. We offer Mental Health First Aid courses
   Through our training programmes, we help equip staff, clients, partners, and community members with MHFA skills.
2. We promote open conversation.
   We actively encourage breaking the silence around mental health. On World Mental Health Day and beyond, we host talks, drop-in sessions, peer-discussions, and awareness campaigns internally and publicly.
3. We build pathways to support.
   Beyond training, we compile and maintain mental health resource directories (local services, crisis lines, counselling, online options). When someone flags a concern, we aim to guide them to specialised care without delay.
4. We invest in proactive wellbeing.
   Training alone isn’t enough, we also advocate for practices that reduce stress (reasonable workloads, transparent communication, breaks, flexible working where possible, mental health check-ins) and we review processes through a wellbeing lens.
5. We commit to continuous learning.
   Mental health is an evolving field. We ensure our facilitators and staff stay updated on best practice, inclusive approaches, and emerging challenges (e.g. digital stress, social isolation, crises response).

If you are part of a team, organisation, or community that would like a MHFA course, do get in touch with us.

What You Can Do — Today and Every Day

World Mental Health Day is a reminder but mental health needs attention 365 days a year. Here are actions you can take:

• Check in on someone. “How are you, today?” can open space for conversation.
• Listen more than you speak. Be curious, empathetic, and non-judgmental.
• Know your local resources. Whether it’s counselling services, helplines, community organisations, or charities — have a list.
• Consider training. Even doing a short MHFA awareness module can shift how you respond to mental distress.
• Advocate for better mental health in your environments. At work, in your community, in your family — push for policies, practices or cultures that protect mental wellbeing.
• Look after your own mental health. Self-care is not indulgence. Rest. Boundaries. Support. Seek help when you need it.

Closing Thoughts

On this World Mental Health Day, let’s remember: mental health is not optional, it underpins how we live, how we work, how we relate to others.

Crisis, disruption or emergency should not mean mental health is left behind. That’s exactly why this year’s theme, Access to services in emergencies, is so urgent.

At KNW, we are committed not just to raising awareness today, but to helping build capacity, resilience and compassion long term. We encourage you to be part of that, whether by joining a course, starting a conversation, or simply being there for someone.

If you’d like us to provide a Mental Health First Aid training for your team or organisation, please reach out.

Let’s make every day a day where mental health is talked about, supported, valued.