World Mental Health Day: A Therapist’s Reflection
By: Counrtney Tomaszewski MA, LCPC, LMHC
Every year on October 10th, we observe World Mental Health Day—a day to recognize how important it is to care for our minds just as much as our bodies. As a therapist, I see it as an opportunity to pause, reflect, and encourage honest conversations about mental health that too often go unspoken.
Mental health looks different for everyone. Some people use this day to reach out for support while others rest, journal, or spend time with loved ones. Some simply pause to acknowledge how far they’ve come. Over the years, we’ve made great progress in how we understand and talk about mental health—there’s more openness, awareness, and compassion than ever before. Yet, we still have a long way to go. Many people continue to face stigma, long waitlists, or limited access to affordable care. World Mental Health Day reminds us that while we’ve come far, there’s still important work ahead to ensure that everyone has the support they need.
Each year, World Mental Health Day introduces a new theme to bring attention to a specific issue or area of need within the broader conversation about mental health. This year’s theme, “Access to Services – Mental Health in Catastrophes and Emergencies,” highlights how critical it is to make mental health support available to everyone, especially in times of crisis. During natural disasters, wars, or other emergencies, people often lose not just their homes and safety, but also their sense of emotional stability. Access to counseling, trauma care, and community support can make a life-changing difference in recovery. This theme reminds us that mental health care isn’t a luxury—it’s an essential part of human survival and resilience. When we respond to emergencies, mental health must be part of the plan from the very beginning.
The goal of World Mental Health Day is to raise awareness and reduce stigma, reminding us that mental health struggles are part of being human. We all face challenges, stress, anxiety, grief, or burnout—and none of these should be faced alone. Small actions like asking “How are you really doing?” or offering a listening ear can make a big difference.
World Mental Health Day isn’t just about awareness, it’s about compassion, connection, and hope. Take a moment today to care for your mental health and remind someone else that they’re not alone.