Observing World Mental Health Awareness Day

World Mental Health Day was founded by the World Federation for Mental Health and is recognized on October 10th each year. We encourage you to take a few minutes to pause and reflect on your own mental health, and to start a conversation with your young person about their emotional well-being.

Check-in on Your Mental Health

Take a few minutes to reflect on, write down, or make a voice memo on your phone about how you are feeling emotionally right now. Here are four prompts to help you get started:

• On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being the best), how would you rate your mental health and emotional well-being right now?
• What things are you looking forward to?
• Are there things you are worried about right now?
• How do you feel about your ability to concentrate and accomplish tasks to support your mental health and well-being?

The Steve Fund’s Family Wellness Journal is a great tool for you and your young person to continue your reflection. It is full of prompts and exercises to strengthen your well-being and build coping skills — and to work on with your family.

More information on World Mental Health Day

• World Federation for Mental Health
• World Mental Health Day 2025 (Mentalhealth.org/uk)
• World Mental Health Day (WHO)

Additional Resources

• Recognizing the Signs Your Young Person Needs Support in Stressful Times
• Supporting Your Teen Experiencing Mental Health Challenges
• If Self-Harm is Possible, Be Proactive
• Keeping Young Women Safe from Self-Harm
• A Guide for Parents: Helping your teen balance academics and mental health
• A Guide for Parents & College Students: Navigating College Campus Support Systems
• Stress-Relieving Exercise: Give yourself a few minutes of calm by following your breath
• Parents Under Pressure: The U.S. Surgeon General Advisory on the Mental Health and Well-Being of Parents