World Mental Health Day 2026: Voices of those with experience can change patient caretranslated

The voices of people who have experienced problems can help change the way mental health care services are designed and delivered, underlines the theme of World Mental Health Day 2026, marked annually on 10 October.

The initiative aims to ensure that these people are not only seen as beneficiaries of services, but have a real role in setting policies, designing services and making decisions that influence their lives.

Entitled "Lived Experiences, Heard: Real Voices, Real Change", the theme puts the direct experience of people who have experienced mental health difficulties at the heart of the campaign.

Simply listening to these experiences is not enough. Meaningful involvement involves creating situations where those with first-hand knowledge of such situations can contribute to improving the care system, combating stigma and increasing institutional accountability.

One of the highlighted objectives is the development of person-centered mental health services available in the community, informs the World Health Organization.

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