world mental health day 2026; lived experiences heard, real voices, real change

On the 10th of October, World Mental Health Day gives us an opportunity to raise awareness of mental health and consider what meaningful change looks like. This year’s theme, “Lived experiences heard: real voices, real change”, feels particularly relevant to our work with young people at asphaleia.

every story matters

Mental health affects people in different ways, which is why listening to those with lived experience is so important. Behind every statistic is an individual with their own experiences, challenges and hopes for the future.

For us at asphaleia, listening to young people is an important part of how we work. Our commitment to young people includes listening to their views, involving them in decisions about their future and providing support when they need it.

That might mean listening to a young person who is re-engaging with education, or understanding what is preventing someone from moving forward. Sometimes it is simply about giving someone the space to explain what life looks like from their perspective.

When people have opportunities to share their experiences, it can help others feel less alone. It can also increase understanding and help shape support that responds to what people actually need.

the value of lived experience

The theme of this year’s World Mental Health Day puts an important emphasis on lived experience. Listening matters because the person receiving support has a unique perspective on what is helpful to them. For organisations working with children and young people, creating opportunities for their voices to be heard can help us understand their needs and experiences more fully.

creating supportive conversations

While awareness of mental health has grown, talking about how we really feel is not always easy. Supportive conversations can begin with everyday actions:

• take time to listen without judgement

• check in with someone and give them space to answer honestly

• respect that another person’s experience may be very different from your own

• help someone find further support if they want or need it

We do not always need to have an answer. Listening and taking somebody’s experience seriously can be valuable in itself.

For young people, this can be particularly important at times of change. Experiences around education and thinking about the future can all affect how someone feels about themselves and what comes next.

asphaleia’s current education provision recognises that young people can need additional help during their learning journey, with wellbeing support forming part of the wider support available to students.

making space for young people's voices

This year’s theme is also a useful prompt to think about the difference between simply allowing someone to speak and genuinely listening to what they have to say.

For young people, being heard means their views should matter. Our Young People’s Pledge includes commitments to support young people’s choices, respect them for who they are and recognise their potential, including when they are facing barriers.

These principles have significance beyond World Mental Health Day. They influence the everyday interactions we have with young people and the environments we create for them.

real voices, real change

World Mental Health Day is one day in the calendar, but its message should extend much further.

The 2026 theme,“Lived experiences heard: real voices, real change”, gives us an opportunity to stop and think about whose experiences we listen to, and what we do with what we hear.

This World Mental Health Day, perhaps the most important thing we can do is simple: make time to listen.