World Mental Health Day
World Mental Health Day takes place every year on 10 October, providing an opportunity to talk openly, raise awareness, and recognise the experiences of people who face mental health challenges. The theme for this year is Lived experiences heard: real voices, real change.
Everyone’s mental health journey is different. Some people may be facing challenges themselves, seeking support for the first time or supporting a loved one, but everyone deserves to feel heard, understood and able to cope with the challenges they face. However, everyday pressures, personal circumstances, stigma and systemic barriers can make it difficult to reach out and access the right support.
One way we can help overcome these barriers is by taking the time to listen. Creating space for open, honest conversations helps people feel genuinely heard, supported and less alone — because being heard can change lives.
At The Cellar Trust, lived experience and peer support are central in our approach to how we work with people who access our services. Our support is designed with care around people’s needs and delivered with compassion and understanding.
Our Support Workers with lived experience use what they have learned through their own mental health journeys to build trusting relationships, offer practical and emotional support, and help people identify strategies that feel realistic for them. By working alongside people, our peer support approach helps people feel less alone, recognise their strengths, and take achievable steps towards recovery, independence and employment.
“My support worker made me feel safe, understood and respected at all times. Her kind and warm presence has played a crucial part in the continuity of my recovery. For the first time in over 20 years, I felt I was being seen and heard.”
HOPE provides intensive peer support for up to 12 weeks, helping people build trust, develop coping strategies, and work towards their personal goals.
“My support worker has made suggestions which come from a place of understanding because they have had similar experiences to me. They know what has helped and what I can try to make my pain and depression better.”
REACH provides one-to-one support for up to six months, working alongside people to achieve the goals that are important to them. Support is tailored to individual needs and can include reducing social isolation, building confidence, accessing community activities, developing independent travel skills, and taking steps towards volunteering, education or employment.
“You guided me through my darkest hours and taught me how to look after myself again. What mattered most was that the support was free when I needed it most, offered without judgement, and delivered with genuine understanding.”
Pathways to Employment works with people for up to 12 months to offer pre-employment support to help them overcome the barriers stopping them from moving into employment, employment support to help people work, and retention support to help people remain in work including liaising with employers.
To find out more about the positive impact our services have on the communities we serve, read our Impact Report 2025-26 here: Impact report
