World Mental Health Day is being marked on Saturday 10 October, with Australia's Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention urging people to check in on friends, family and colleagues.
In a statement issued for the day, Emma McBride said the 2026 theme is “Together We Thrive”. The government says its expanding support network includes Medicare Mental Health Centres and a free digital service called Medicare Mental Health Check In.
For young people in Cairns, headspace Cairns lists free support for people aged 12 to 25 at Level 2, 42 Grafton Street. Its website provides current opening hours and explains how to make contact.
The government's Medicare Mental Health Check In offers free, confidential online tools for people aged 16 and over living in Australia who have mild mental health challenges. It says no diagnosis or referral is required, and users can choose self-guided or practitioner-supported help.
These services have different eligibility and purposes; readers can check their websites for details and contact a qualified health professional for advice suited to their circumstances.
Source: Australian Government World Mental Health Day statement, 10 October 2026.
Illustration disclosure: The featured image is an AI-generated editorial illustration of a generic tropical setting and two people talking. It is not a photograph of a Cairns event or anyone receiving care.
