Every year on the 10th of October, the world unites for World Mental Health Day, a global initiative led by the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH). This day is dedicated to raising awareness, mobilising action, and reducing stigma around mental health matters worldwide.

The focal theme for World Mental Health Day 2025 is:

“It is time to prioritise mental health in the workplace.”

Workplaces - whether offices, schools, hospitals, factories, or remote environments - shape much of our daily lives. Prioritising mental health in these settings is essential to building supportive, inclusive and thriving environments.

Why Focus on Workplace Wellbeing?

• Prevalence: In the UK, one in four individuals experiences a mental health issue each year. Over 527,000 people in England live with severe mental illnesses like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. In Scotland, the rate is similarly high, with around one in four people affected annually.
• Stigma: Alarmingly, stigma persists. Three in ten UK adults would reconsider working with someone diagnosed with a severe mental illness. Around 60% wouldn't feel comfortable sharing such a diagnosis with colleagues, and 53% wouldn't feel safe disclosing it to their manager.

These statistics highlight that we still have a long way to go in cultivating workplace cultures grounded in empathy, understanding, and support.

Mental Health in the Veterinary Profession

WMHD is recognised by the veterinary profession as veterinary surgeons in the UK are three to four times more likely than the general population to die by suicide (Platt et al., 2010). Being a vet can be exciting and rewarding. However, caring for animals can be challenging, too – mentally as well as physically.

As a profession built on care and compassion, veterinary teams must also extend that compassion to themselves and each other.

Did you know pets can improve mental health?

Caring for a pet can help our mental health in many ways, including:

• Increasing your physical activity. Dog owners are likely to take their pets for a walk or run every day. This can be a fun way to fit exercise into your routine.
• Providing companionship. Pets can give you a sense of security and someone to share the day with. Caring for them can help you feel wanted and needed. This can be especially valuable for older people or those who live alone.
• Reducing anxiety. The companionship of a pet can help to ease your anxiety.
• Boosting self-confidence. Pets can be great listeners, offer unconditional love and won’t criticise you. This can help your self-confidence, especially if you feel isolated or misunderstood.
• Helping you meet new people. Dog owners often stop and chat with each other on walks. But other pets can be a way to meet people too: in pet shops, training classes or online groups, for example.
• Adding structure to your day. Feeding, exercising and caring for a pet can help you keep to a daily routine, which can help you feel more grounded and focused. It can give your day purpose and a sense of achievement.

How You Can Participate

• Find out how you can get involved by visiting the WMHF website

It’s time to Rethink Mental Illness - to champion mental health as an essential element of every workplace and every community.