WA Mental Health Week launches in a riot of colour, community spirit
Saturday 4 October 2025
- WA Mental Health Week 2025 officially begins today, ending on 11 October and encompassing World Mental Health Day on 10 October.
- The event brings communities together to raise awareness and reduce the stigma of mental ill-health.
- The official launch event this year was the Mad Hatter Tea Party in Kinjarling / Albany.
With a splash of colour, a touch of whimsy and a whole lot of community spirit, WA Mental Health Week has officially kicked off for another year.
Since 1967, WAAMH has been delivering WA Mental Health Week to bring Western Australian communities together, to raise awareness and reduce the stigma of mental ill-health and recovery from mental health challenges.
This year, WA Mental Health Week will run until 11 October, encompassing World Mental Health Day on 10 October.
The Mad Hatter Tea Party in KinJarling / Albany served as this year’s official opening event, coordinated by headspace, Albany and Youth Focus.
Held in the iconic Town Square, the event saw attendees don their most eccentric hats and gather for a morning of conversations, laughter and the infamous Best Hat Parade.
For the 12th year running, the Tea Party saw locals, advocates, service providers and community leaders come together, to reclaim the word ‘mad’ and shine a positive light on mental health recovery.
The WA Association for Mental Health’s CEO, Taryn Harvey, said the event was a great example of the power that communities have in bringing about change.
“For more than a decade, the Mad Hatter Tea Party has been sparking conversations, influencing the language people use to discuss mental health, and spreading the message that it’s okay to seek support and talk about mental health challenges without feeling shame,” Ms Harvey said.
“That’s the power of community, and that’s what WA Mental Health Week is all about.”
The theme for this year’s WA Mental Health Week is Empowering Communities, Thriving Workforces, highlighting the important role of community-based supports and initiatives, as well as meaningful employment, in mental health recovery.
“Empowerment starts with connection, just like we saw in Albany,” Ms Harvey explained.
“Together, we can build communities and workplaces where mental health is not just supported – it’s celebrated.”
Throughout the week, Western Australians are encouraged to wear a green awareness ribbon to help spark conversations about mental health.
At the same time, communities right across the state will be marking the occasion by holding their own events and activities.
Find a WA Mental Health Week event near you at www.mentalhealthweek.org.au/events or follow us on Facebook to view all the action from the 2025 WA Mental Health Week launch.