October 9 2025

This World Mental Health Day, held annually on October 10, the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) again calls on all levels of government to act to address the mental health crisis in Canada.

The mental health needs of Canadians continue to grow while the available resources and supports remain inadequate. The affordability crisis has placed additional stress on workers and families and there continues to be a need for workplace mental health resources as workers are facing unprecedented challenges related to short staffing and increased workplace stress. The lack of action from all levels of government and employers is not acceptable.

The added mental health challenges people face during emergencies and crises is also of great concern. Globally, and in Canada, communities are facing more humanitarian emergences related to conflicts, disasters and disease outbreaks. World Mental Health Day is promoted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and this year the focus is on how we address and support people’s mental health during humanitarian emergencies.

2025 World Mental Health Day Focus

The 2025 World Mental Health Day focuses on mental health in humanitarian emergencies. The key points being promoted by the WHO are:

• Mental health must be protected and supported during humanitarian emergencies such as conflicts, disasters, and disease outbreaks.
• Psychological well-being is essential for recovery and rebuilding, alongside basic needs like food, water, and shelter.
• All emergency responses should include accessible mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) services to help people cope, heal, and restore their lives.
• Special attention must be given to vulnerable groups; children, refugees, people with disabilities, and those with pre-existing mental health conditions, to ensure no one is left behind.
• Investing in mental health care during and after emergencies strengthens resilience, supports recovery, and reduces long-term social and economic costs.
• Humanitarian workers themselves also need mental health supports to sustain their well-being and effectiveness.

Mental health services essential, not optional

The 2025 campaign emphasizes that protecting mental health is a life-saving component of emergency response, not an optional service. The WHO calls for governments, aid agencies, and communities to integrate mental health into crisis planning and humanitarian operations. The focus is on resilience, inclusion, and continuity of care, ensuring that even in times of crisis, mental health support remains available and equitable.

NUPGE urges governments to recognize that mental health care is an essential part of public health care andto fund additional mental health supports during times of crisis. We also need to provide strong supports for both affected populations and the front-line workers who care for them. Many of these frontline workers are NUPGE members. These include first-responders, health care workers, wildland firefighters, crisis counsellors and beyond. NUPGE represents 450,000 members across Canada; these include those dedicated workers who put themselves at risk and head towards danger to deal with critical situations.

Resources to assist

While the call for action is longstanding and calls for government and employer action, we recognise that people are currently in crisis.

Need help?

If this is an urgent situation, call 9-1-1. If you or someone you know is not able to stay safe, seek help right away.

Call the 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline if you have mental health concerns including thoughts of suicide

Call 310-Mental Health, (310-6789), no area code needed) for support, information and resources specific to mental health.

Here are additional links to resources on a range of mental health issues from the Mental Health Commission of Canada.