Connection, belonging and community at the heart of this year’s Mental Health Month

Connection, belonging and community at the heart of this year’s Mental Health Month 

Most days, I walk my dog Otto around my neighbourhood. Along the way, there's usually a quick hello to a neighbour, a chat with someone out walking, or a smile exchanged in passing. 

They may seem like small moments, but they help me feel connected to others and part of my community. 

Mental Health Month starts on 1 October and this year's national theme, Together We Thrive, celebrates the power of connection, belonging and community in supporting positive mental health and wellbeing.  

At a time when many Australians are experiencing loneliness, isolation and increasing pressures, this theme reminds us that meaningful connections can make a difference to our mental health. 

Mental Health Australia is proud to lead the national Mental Health Month and World Mental Health Day (10 October) campaign, bringing communities, organisations and individuals together around this important message. 

Many of us are navigating a lot right now. Global conflict and uncertainty, rising costs and constant change are leaving many people feeling overwhelmed and disconnected.   

The 2026 Intergenerational Report, released this week, highlighted some of the major forces shaping Australia's future, from technological change and an ageing population to geopolitical uncertainty. These changes will influence how we live, work and connect with one another in the decades ahead, with important implications for our mental health and wellbeing, both now and into the future. 

Against this backdrop, the theme Together We Thrive feels especially timely. 

As Mental Health Month begins, I encourage you to think about the small ways we can strengthen connection, create belonging and support one another. Whether it's reaching out to a friend, joining a local group, checking in with a colleague or simply taking time for a chat, small acts can help people feel seen, valued and connected. 

We’ve developed a range of free campaign resources to help you get involved, including social media assets, posters and promotional materials.  

We've also once again created our popular Community Wellbeing Calendar, as well as our Youth and Multicultural Wellbeing Calendars, developed in partnership with ReachOut and Embrace Multicultural Mental Health. 

And this year, we’re grateful to have a wonderful group of ambassadors supporting the campaign, sharing their stories to help bring the Together We Thrive message to life throughout October. 

We'd greatly appreciate your support in sharing the campaign through your networks and communities to help reach more people with this important message. 

During Mental Health Month and beyond, let’s all consider the role each of us can play in fostering connection, belonging and inclusion in the communities, workplaces and services we help shape.