About the Event
What happens when we move beyond assumptions about mental health and begin listening to the people who experience mental health challenges themselves?
In commemoration of World Mental Health Day 2026, Gracious Gifters Foundation is pleased to invite the public to an online webinar under the global theme, โLived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change.โ
The webinar aims to promote a better understanding of mental health, challenge misconceptions and stigma, and emphasize the importance of meaningfully involving people with lived experience in conversations, programmes and decisions that affect their lives.
Mental health is an essential part of overall health and well-being. Yet, misconceptions and harmful stereotypes continue to shape how people experiencing mental health difficulties are perceived and treated. By creating space for professional knowledge, lived experience and practical community perspectives, this webinar seeks to encourage a more informed, compassionate and inclusive approach to mental health.
What to Expect
The webinar will follow three key areas:
1. UNDERSTAND โ Mental Health Is More Than โMadnessโ: Explore what mental health means, learn about common mental health conditions, and address misconceptions that contribute to stigma and discrimination.
2. LISTEN โ Beyond the Label: A Lived-Experience Perspective: Hear perspectives from lived experience and reflect on what individuals, families and communities need to understand about mental health, dignity, inclusion and support.
3. ACT โ From Listening to Action: Discuss practical ways families, communities, organizations and institutions can create more supportive environments and meaningfully involve people with lived experience in decisions and initiatives that affect them.
The webinar will bring together perspectives from a mental health professional, a person with lived experience and a community or mental health practitioner. It will also include an interactive question-and-answer session.
Who Should Attend?
The event is open to young people, students, mental health professionals, people with lived experience, social and community workers, NGO and civil society representatives, educators, parents, caregivers, community leaders, humanitarian and development practitioners, and members of the general public.
Anyone interested in understanding mental health, challenging stigma and promoting more inclusive communities is welcome to register.
Event Details
Date: 19 October 2026,
Format: Google Meet – link to be shared with registered partticipants
Time: 4:oopm WAT,
Registration link: https://shorturl.at/jt8RB
Participants are encouraged to register in advance. Joining instructions will be communicated to registered participants before the event.
Join the Conversation
World Mental Health Day is an opportunity not only to raise awareness but also to reflect on how we respond to people with mental health conditions and how their experiences can inform better support and decisions.
Gracious Gifters Foundation invites you to be part of this conversation as we work towards communities where people are treated with dignity, stigma is challenged, and lived experiences help shape meaningful change.
UNDERSTAND. LISTEN. ACT.
For inquiries: info@graciousgifters.org
Lived experiences heard. Real voices respected. Real change pursued.
