This World Mental Health Day, 10th October 2026, the theme is ‘Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change’ – which allows the opportunity to celebrate the importance of lived experience contributions to the delivery of our services, and encourage further conversations about the importance of embedding learnings from real voices throughout Irish mental health organisations and the broader health sector.
At Aware we aim to empower people impacted by depression, bipolar and anxiety through evidence informed supports, education, therapy and advocacy, working in collaboration with the wider community and mental health services.
What is lived experience?
The knowledge and personal insights gained by individuals through first-hand experience or direct involvement in a situation or challenge.
At Aware we recognise lived experience of depression as a form of expertise.
We continue to value the life experience developed through navigating a mental health journey to recovery. These stories provide valuable insights that help to improve our supports, and it is essential in helping us to develop more effective and compassionate services.
We apply the learnings gathered from lived experience voices through
- Aware Services and Research – Our lived experience panel contribute to Aware through service co-design, public engagement and research input.
- Delivery of Peer Support – The service delivery in our Dublin and Waterford Solace Café’s – out-of-hours crisis support, which is provided by trained peer connectors and support workers; individuals who use their own lived experience of mental health challenges and recovery to connect with and help Café visitors.
What is HSE Lived Experience Awareness Day?
This Thursday 15th October 2026 – the second annual HSE Lived Experience Awareness Day takes place, with events and campaigns taking place across the Irish NGO sector. This day celebrates the progress that has been made so far in recognising and embedding real voices in mental health services across Ireland, whilst acknowledging that some work remains to truly recognise and amplify these voices, ensuring their positive impact in the delivery of effective services.
HSE Lived Experience Awareness Day is a national opportunity to recognise, celebrate, and elevate the knowledge, expertise, and contributions of people who have lived experience of mental health difficulties (including families, carers, and supporters) organised by the HSE. The day aims to move the conversation beyond illness and diagnosis, towards people’s strengths, resilience, recovery, and contributions to their communities – platforming lived experience voices to be heard, valued, and respected; and for general public understanding of the realities of mental health difficulties and recovery to be broadened.
At Aware this HSE Lived Experience Awareness Day we reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that lived experience is valued as expertise through
- Our New Video Campaign – linked here
- The October Edition of our Aware Monthly Webinar Series, on Wednesday 7th October from 12-1pm, on ‘The Power of Lived Experience: Understanding Resilience and Mental Health’ – linked here.
You can find more information on the broad range of events and campaigns for HSE Lived Experience Awareness Day by NGOS across Ireland on Mental Health Reform – linked here.
Aware Mental Health Week 2026 takes place between 5th – 11th October this year – learn more here.