World Mental Health Day 2026 is October 10.
Credit: Kelly Sikkema / Unsplash
A billion people. A local lifeline. And a call to give the people who have navigated mental health challenges a say in how care works.
Saturday, October 10, is World Mental Health Day, the annual observance highlighted by the World Health Organization (WHO) to raise awareness and spur action. This year’s theme, “Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change,” puts firsthand experience at the center of decisions about mental health services.
The scale is staggering. WHO reports that over 1 billion people worldwide live with mental health disorders, with anxiety and depression the most common. Depression and anxiety alone cost the global economy an estimated $1 trillion annually. Behind those figures are neighbors, coworkers, friends and families navigating challenges that can touch every corner of daily life.
Here in Broward, Suzette B. Fleischmann, CEO of Broward Behavioral Health Coalition, Inc. (BBHC), is calling for that global conversation to translate into tangible changes.
“People who have sought care understand where systems work, where they fall short and what support can make the greatest difference,” Fleischmann says in an op-ed shared with Browardist.
Her organization helps oversee the local infrastructure supporting that care. Established in 2011, the nonprofit serves as Broward County’s managing entity for publicly funded mental health and substance use services under the Florida Department of Children and Families. BBHC contracts with providers, monitors services and oversees clinical quality and improvements across a system serving people with mental health, substance use and co-occurring disorders.
Fleischmann’s message: People using those services should help shape them, from initial planning through delivery and evaluation.
“But listening is only the beginning,” she says.
Another priority is clearing up confusion about getting help. Uncertainty about whom to call, available services and eligibility can keep families from seeking support. Cost worries can do the same, Fleischmann noted, even when publicly funded treatment and recovery services may be available.
“Just as importantly, we cannot wait until someone reaches a crisis to offer support.”
She urges education, compassionate outreach and earlier connections to resources, alongside a reminder that recovery is possible.
For South Floridians seeking resources, Fleischmann recommends dialing 211 to connect with a helpline counselor who can assess needs and guide callers toward support. Anyone experiencing a mental health crisis or suicidal thoughts can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
