May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Today's information is courtesy of Mental Health America.
Each year, Mental Health America (MHA) selects a theme to guide its May campaign. For 2026, the theme is “More Good Days, Together” – a message that reflects MHA’s core mission of helping people experience more good days by meeting them where they are, supporting them as whole people, and recognising that “good” looks different for everyone. The theme encourages individuals and communities to think about what a good day means to them and to use those personal insights to shape advocacy, education, and mutual support.
The numbers paint a stark picture. According to the World Health Organisation, more than one billion people worldwide live with a mental disorder – roughly one in every seven people on the planet. Anxiety and depressive disorders account for more than two-thirds of all cases, and depression alone is the leading cause of disability among people aged 15 to 29. The economic toll is equally significant: the WHO estimates that depression and anxiety cost the global economy US$1 trillion annually in lost productivity.
Mental Health Awareness Month exists to confront these gaps. By bringing mental health into mainstream conversation every May, the campaign helps normalise help-seeking behaviour, challenges harmful stereotypes, and pushes for policy changes that expand access to affordable, quality mental health care.
To learn more, go to Mental Health America.