Aware Mental Health Week 2026 shines a light on the power of understanding your mental health, using peer supports, and telling real stories, so that nobody must face depression alone.
Aware Mental Health Week (5th – 11th October), takes place ahead of World Mental Health Day on the 10th of October, giving us an opportunity to build towards the global conversation around mental health.
This year, the theme for World Mental Health Day is “Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change”, which closely aligns with our own focus for Aware Mental Health Week.
We’ll bring this theme to life through a number of activities, including a video featuring real stories and lived experience experts, showcasing how people have used Aware’s education programmes and support services as part of their mental health journey.
While the video captures real voices and personal stories, we also commissioned a nationwide survey to explore people’s understanding of mental health, their experiences of seeking support, and the barriers that can prevent people from reaching out. The findings will help us better understand the experiences and needs of people across Ireland, while highlighting the importance of greater openness, understanding and access to mental health support.
We’ll also host a webinar on October 7th where we’ll be joined by Michael Ryan, Head of the National Office of Mental Health Engagement and Recovery at the HSE, alongside Jonathan Kemp, Author and Lived Experience Expert who is undertaking his ‘Finding Peace of Mind Walk’ across Ireland and sharing his own experience along the way.
Together, these activities will highlight the value of understanding our mental health, peer support and hearing directly from people with real experience.
Keep an eye on our social media channels throughout the week as we will be sharing lots of content.
And don’t forget we’re here for you if you need support.
Choose from the below options to learn more.
Lived Experience Stories
This video, created for Aware Mental Health Week 2026, shares the authentic lived-experience stories from some of our fantastic Aware Ambassadors who have engaged with Aware’s support services and education programmes. Through their lived experiences, they explain how Aware helps people better understand and manage their mental health, while highlighting the range of free support available.
We hope the video will encourage people to talk more openly about their mental health and feel comfortable reaching out for support early. By sharing real stories and lived experiences, we want to remind people that they’re not alone and that support is there when they need it.
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Lived Experience Resources and Events
What is Lived Experience?
Given this year’s World Mental Health Day theme “Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change” and ahead of this year’s HSE Lived Experience Awareness Day this 15th October – this blog post explores the term ‘Lived Experience’.
Learn how Aware recognise it’s expertise and apply learnings gathered through listening to people’s stories.
'Tides Within' by Bernadette Crawford
Bernadette shares her recent story of learning how to visually express life with bipolar through the arts.
Having recently graduated from a photography course at the National College of Art and Design (NCAD), Bernadette reflects on the process of turning the camera inward and considering her experience of living with bipolar through her camera lense.
Read about her project ‘Tides Within’ on this blog post.
Galway
In-person
Event
Join Aware for a free in-person event on Monday, 19th October, from 7.30 – 9pm at The Ardilaun Hotel, Galway, exploring resilience in mental health.
Come along to hear personal experiences, explore what resilience can mean in the context of mental health, and learn more about the power of peer support.
What is depression and how do I recognise it?
Depression is a common mood condition and any one of us, irrespective of age, gender or background can be affected.
While everyone’s mental health journey is unique, Aware use the FESTIVAL acronym to list the main symptoms of depression. The acronym is used as a helpful way to remember all eight.
National survey
As part of Aware Mental Health Week, we commissioned a nationwide survey to better understand how people across Ireland experience and manage their mental health, from the factors that influence wellbeing, to how people seek support and what can prevent them from reaching out.
The findings highlight the importance of connection and understanding in managing mental health, while showing that financial pressures and stigma continue to have a significant impact on people’s wellbeing and ability to access support. With two thirds of respondents saying they have experienced symptoms of depression, the findings also reinforce the importance of making mental health support accessible, understandable and easier to talk about.
These insights give us a clearer picture of the experiences and needs of people across Ireland, and reinforce the importance of helping people feel informed, supported and comfortable asking for help when they need it.
Webinar
Lived and living experience of mental health challenges is an important part of understanding human distress, alongside clinical perspectives. In this webinar as part of Aware Mental Health Week, we will centre this expertise as we explore what resilience really means, how it can develop through difficult experiences, and the role that connection, peer support and shared experience can play in our mental health journeys.
We’ll be joined by Michael Ryan, Head of the National Office of Mental Health Engagement and Recovery at the HSE, alongside Jonathan Kemp, Author and Lived Experience Expert. Together, they’ll share their perspectives on the value of lived experience in understanding mental health and building resilience.
Whether you’re looking to better understand your own experiences, support someone else, or learn more about resilience and mental health, this webinar will offer meaningful perspectives and practical strategies for everyday life.
Can’t make it live? Sign up anyway and we’ll send you the recording.
Want to invest in your mental health?
Whether you’re living with depression, bipolar or anxiety, supporting a loved one, or simply looking to better understand and protect your mental health, we have a programme for you.
Registration is now open for our Resilience Programme, Living Well With Bipolar Programme and Family Support Programme.
Do you need support?
Don’t forget that we’re here for you.
If you’re experiencing depression, bipolar, or anxiety, or are concerned about a loved one, we can offer you a safe and accepting space to receive support, compassion and guidance.
All of our support services are offered free of charge.
Supporting someone?
If you are looking for information and resources to help you as you support someone who experiences depression or bipolar, we have some helpful actions and options below.
It costs Aware circa €2.5m to deliver our range of services each year. We receive limited funding from the State, so rely heavily on the support of the public and our corporate partners in order to raise these funds.
Your donation will help us to improve the lives of individuals, families and communities affected by depression, bipolar, and anxiety. Your generosity means that more free-of-charge support, education and information services can be provided for those who need it most.