World Mental Health Day: Let’s Finally Treat Our Minds Like Our Bodies
- Fraser Annis
- Oct 10
- 4 min read
Today is October 10 – World Mental Health Day.
It’s the perfect time to stop, reflect, and recognise the importance of looking after our minds — not just our own, but each other’s too. Mental health isn’t something that affects other people; it affects all of us. Every single day.
We all have good days and bad ones, moments of joy and moments of frustration. We all experience pressure, sadness, and stress — and that’s okay. But we’ve built a culture that expects us to “cope” no matter what. We treat emotional pain as weakness, when in truth, it’s part of being human.
Mental Health Is Health
It’s astonishing that in 2025, mental and physical health are still treated so differently. If someone broke their leg, we’d tell them to rest. If someone broke their spirit, we’d tell them to push on.
That double standard has to end.
The truth is, nobody has perfect mental health all the time. We all face pressure at work or school. We all worry about money, relationships, and the future. We all have moments when the weight of life feels too heavy to carry.
It’s not weakness — it’s humanity.
The System Is Broken
Our schools and workplaces still haven’t caught up. Attendance and performance are treated as the only measures of success — but wellbeing should come first.
We need policies that allow people to take time off for their mental health, without fear or judgement. We need to normalise mental health days the same way we do sick days. We need to understand that rest isn’t laziness — it’s recovery.
A workforce that is rested and supported will always be more productive, creative, and loyal than one that’s burned out.
My Experience with Burnout
As an autistic person, I’ve learned what burnout truly feels like. It’s when everything becomes too loud, too fast, too much. It’s when your body and brain scream for rest, but the world tells you to keep going.
From the age of 8 to 18, I didn’t stop. I thought if I kept pushing, I’d prove myself. But at 17, I crashed — hard. I was ill, exhausted, and I had no choice but to step away from everything.
If I could turn back time, I’d listen to my body. I’d rest before I broke. And that’s my message to anyone reading this:
Please, don’t make the same mistake I did. Rest when you need to. Breathe when life feels too loud.
A Call for Real Change
We need laws that protect mental health as strongly as physical health. We need employers who value people over profits. We need schools that teach emotional literacy, not just attendance rates.
Taking time off to protect your mind should never feel like a crime. And those who do should never face judgement or punishment for it.
Mental Health Through History
Mental health didn’t appear in the 21st century — it’s been with us since the beginning of time. From the soldiers who fought wars to the children who cleaned chimneys, from the explorers who risked their lives at sea to the activists who fought for justice — imagine their mental strain.
Even history’s greatest figures — Shakespeare, Van Gogh, Anne Frank, Martin Luther King — all had days of despair and doubt. They just didn’t have the words or support we do today.
Let’s not waste the progress we’ve made. Let’s speak openly, and treat mental health as something sacred, not shameful.
What We Can All Do
The most powerful thing you can do today is be kind. To others, yes — but also to yourself.
Here’s how you can make a difference:
Be supportive, not judgemental.
Offer help, but let people choose what kind of help they need.
Never say “I know exactly how you feel.”
Don’t minimise someone’s pain.
Listen — really listen — and make space for honesty.
And if you’re struggling, please remember: you are not alone. You deserve help, and help is out there.
📞 Samaritans (UK): 116 123
🌐 Mind: mind.org.uk
Looking After Your Mind
Your brain, like your body, needs both exercise and rest. Try to do things that stimulate it — even small ones:
Go for a walk or exercise.
Try a hobby, puzzle, or quiz.
Read, study, or learn something new.
Connect with others — or take time to be alone when you need to.
But when you start to feel overwhelmed, stop. Step back. Rest. Recovery is part of growth.
Anxiety and Medication
Anxiety is one of the most common mental health conditions, and it comes in many forms. It’s okay to feel anxious — it’s part of how we process risk and emotion.
And if you need medication, there is no shame in that.I take anxiety medication myself — and it helps me. It doesn’t define me, and it doesn’t make me weak. It simply helps me live my life.
Medication is just one of many tools to help you cope — no different from taking painkillers for a migraine.
Final Thoughts
Mental health affects everyone. It’s universal, unpredictable, and deeply human.
This World Mental Health Day, let’s move beyond hashtags and slogans. Let’s push for a society that acts — one that values kindness, empathy, and understanding as much as attendance, productivity, and performance.
Because mental health isn’t a private battle — it’s a shared responsibility. And together, we can build a world where saying “I’m not okay” isn’t shameful — it’s safe.
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