Reminder: World Mental Health Day, 10 October 2025
Every year on 10 October, World Mental Health Day reminds us to check in with ourselves and with one another.
Every year on 10 October, World Mental Health Day reminds us to check in with ourselves and with one another. It’s a global moment to acknowledge that mental health isn’t some separate thing we deal with when we’re in crisis. It’s the foundation of how we move through the world every single day.
And here’s something we’ve explored extensively at Alone Rangers: loneliness and mental health are deeply, inextricably linked.
Research from the World Health Organization reveals that one in six people worldwide experience loneliness, contributing to an estimated 871,000 deaths annually. But it’s not just about mortality. People experiencing loneliness are twice as likely to develop depression, and they face increased risks of anxiety, sleep disturbances, and other mental health challenges.
As Dr Vivek Murthy, former U.S. Surgeon General and co-chair of the WHO Commission on Social Connection, explains:
“Emotional well-being is more than the absence of a mental illness. It’s that resource within each of us which allows us to reach ever closer to our full potential, and which also enables us to be resilient in the face of adversity.”
The relationship works both ways. Loneliness can trigger mental health struggles, whilst existing mental health challenges can make it harder to maintain connections, creating a cycle that’s difficult to break.
Recent studies from Harvard found that 81% of adults experiencing loneliness also reported struggling with anxiety or depression, compared to just 29% of those with strong social connections. These aren’t just statistics. They are people feeling disconnected in a supposedly hyperconnected world.
The good news? Connection is a powerful antidote to both loneliness and poor mental health.
What You Can Do
World Mental Health Day isn’t about grand gestures. It’s about recognising that your wellbeing matters, and that reaching out isn’t a sign of weakness, it’s a sign of wisdom.
Start small:
Check in with someone you haven’t spoken to in a while
Be honest when someone asks how you’re doing
Seek help if you’re struggling (talking to a GP is a good first step)
Remember that building connections takes time, and that’s okay
Your mental health deserves the same attention you’d give a dodgy knee or a persistent cough. And often, the path to better mental health runs straight through better connections.
On this World Mental Health Day, perhaps the most important thing to remember is this: you’re not alone in feeling alone, and reaching out is the first step towards feeling better.