The theme of 2022’s World Mental Health Day, set by the World Federation for Mental Health, is ‘Make mental health and wellbeing for all a global priority’.

Over the last 70 years the Mental Health Foundation have been working to ensure that mental health is treated on a par with physical health. Mental health problems exist in our lives, families, workplaces and communities, impacting everyone.

The day is also a chance to pause and think about our own mental wellbeing, and what we can do to improve it.

While we need government action to fix many of the root causes of mental health problems, such as poverty, poor housing and job insecurity, there are things we can all do individually to stay on top of our mental wellbeing.

The Mental Health Foundation has produced a new guide, ‘Our Best Mental Health Tips’, packed with tips and techniques on the things we can do for better mental health.

The foundation also produces regular podcasts featuring interviews with a number of interesting people involved in mental health, including people who have experienced mental health problems, campaigners and mental health experts.

This year, the mental health charity Mind, are using spoken words to show the different ways people talk about their experiences, with their awareness campaign, ‘If this speaks to you, speak to us’. Visit Mind’s website to see the different ways people talk about their own experiences.

Plus, Mental Health UK are launching ‘Play Your Part’ on World Mental Health Day, a special news-style programme highlighting how everyone has a role to play when it comes to the future of mental health. Anchored by Dr Sian Williams, Play Your Part will encourage us all to consider the unique contribution we could make in striving for better mental health across society through inspiring case study led films and interviews with experts in this field. You can watch the trailer HERE.

Ultimately, we envision a world in which mental health is valued, promoted and protected; where everyone has an equal opportunity to enjoy mental health and to exercise their human rights; and where everyone can access the mental health care they need.