Community action placed top of the agenda for London’s Great Mental Health Day

 On Friday, 31 January 2025, Great Mental Health Day will take place across London.

Now in its fourth year, Great Mental Health Day is a London-wide initiative to get Londoners talking about their mental health and wellbeing.

The day will see a range of free events taking place across the city, bringing people together to share stories, experiences and explore ways to support individual and community wellbeing.

As an awareness day unique to London, the day provides an opportunity to spotlight the great local support services that are available. For 2025, under the theme of ‘small actions for others’, organisers are also looking to celebrate and learn from organisations and community leaders across the region who are devoting energy and compassion to others.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I am proud to support Thrive LDN’s Great Mental Health Day. It’s vital that we continue breaking down the stigma surrounding mental health, and this range of free events offers a great opportunity to bring people together and find out more about the support and services that are available across the capital.

“Every day, so many Londoners make a positive difference to others’ mental health, from checking in on a friend, to inviting a neighbour over for a cuppa and a chat. I am committed to ensuring every Londoner can access the support they need to stay mentally well, as we build a healthier London for everyone.”

How to get involved

Londoners across the city can get involved by accessing the Great Mental Health Day interactive map on Thrive LDN’s website, exploring a range of free training and webinars, or use the hashtag #GreatMentalHealth on social media to share their own plans for the day.

Across the range of activity taking place to the mark Great Mental Health Day, many of London’s councils, local community organisations, or local Mind groups are facilitating events. For example:

In west London, The Positive Movement Project is facilitating a Walk and Talk event in Hounslow. MindFood is running open sessions at their two Ealing Growing sites for Great Mental Health Day.

In central London, ABC Parents in partnership with Haringey Public Health and Kooth are taking over Tottenham Community Sports Centre for a wellbeing fayre. In the neighbouring borough, Islington Age UK is hosting a series of January Men’s Socials, drop-in events to meet others living locally for darts, table tennis or trips out.

In east London, Waltham Forest Time To Talk has a range of events for local residents and those in the wider area, from creative drawing groups to peer support groups. At London Fields Lido, a swim meet-up and reciprocal childcare exchange for mums with babies aged 0-2, hosted by one of the amazing Mamma Swim host volunteers, is taking place in the morning.

In south east London, taking place on Hilly Fields, Lewisham, South East London Mind is hosting a free walking group for new or expectant mums. Brixton Tate Library is hosting creative activities for mums, led by local resident, Anita Kambo, in collaboration with 64 Million Artists.

In south west London, Off the Record Youth Counselling Croydon, which supports young people across the boroughs of Croydon, Sutton and Merton, and Stanley Arts are hosting a free, relaxed queer youth social, providing a safe space to network, access mental health advice and opportunities to participate in activities and arts activities.

Elsewhere, James’ Place, a London-wide charity offering free, life-saving treatment to suicidal men, is hosting an open morning at their London centre, open to anyone to come along and find out more about the service.

You can find the full range of activities taking place, including a number of free webinars and training opportunities, on the Thrive LDN website.

Strategic lead for Mind in London, Lucy Dodd, said: “Local Minds across London are pleased to be supporting Great Mental Health Day which will be an opportunity to explore more about the small actions which contribute to supportive, caring, and compassionate communities. Having strong, supportive relationships – whether family and support structures or from wider community and faith groups – is one of the most important things we can do to support our wellbeing.

“We all need community. We all need connection. And in a world where those who face the greatest disadvantages in life also face the greatest risks to their mental health, we need these safe spaces more than ever.”

Director of Thrive LDN and Good Thinking, London’s digital wellbeing service, Dan Barrett, added: “Great Mental Health Day is a chance to celebrate and to keep learning from London’s community and grassroots projects who in recent years have played a vital role, right across the city, in supporting the wellbeing of the communities which they support–and know best. We want to inspire a citywide conversation that promotes understanding, empathy, and support.”