10/10/2026
🌍 Today is World Mental Health Day 2026
This year’s theme is: “Lived experiences heard: Real voices, real change.”
As parents and carers, we want the young people in our lives to know that they can talk to us about anything.
But sometimes, they might not know how to explain what they’re feeling. They might withdraw, become quieter, seem more irritable or simply say, “I’m fine.”
And sometimes, there’s much more going on beneath the surface.
Bullying behaviour, exclusion, friendship difficulties and experiences online can all affect how a young person feels about themselves and the world around them.
That’s why listening matters.
💜 Ask how they’re doing and give them time to answer
💜 Listen without immediately trying to fix the problem
💜 Take their feelings seriously
💜 Avoid saying “just ignore it” or “it’s not a big deal”
💜 Remind them that they don’t have to deal with things alone
You might not always understand exactly what they’re going through, but you can let them know that their experience matters and that you’re there to listen.
This World Mental Health Day, let’s make sure young people know their voices deserve to be heard.
24/7 help is available:
Samaritans - 116 123
Childline - 0800 1111
- Text 'SHOUT' to 85258
👉 At BulliesOut, we’re also here to listen, support and guide you. If you need a safe space to talk, our Talk2Us Virtual Counselling service offers confidential and non-judgemental support that’s convenient and accessible.
💻 It’s available for those in the UK aged 9+ and you can learn more here ➡️ https://bulliesout.com/what-we-do/counselling-mentoring/