Finding the right mental health support can feel overwhelming. When someone is struggling, knowing where to turn can make all the difference. That’s why, this World Mental Health Day (Saturday 10 October 2026), local mental health organisations Leeds Mind, Touchstone, MindWell and Forum Central have teamed up to make it easier to find support in Leeds.
In the week leading up to World Mental Health Day, the organisations are leading an information campaign focused on helping people know Where To Turn for local mental health support. The aim of the campaign is to offer simple routes into support when the system feels overwhelming and hard to navigate. In particular, the campaign will use Instagram and other social media to raise awareness of the best places to start when looking for help.
These are:
- Reaching out to key local health and wellbeing services like your local GP, wellbeing and therapy service Leeds Mental Wellbeing Service, and Linking Leeds, which offers practical help in finding support.
- Browsing trusted online mental health information to understand what you’re experiencing and find support: MindWell is the mental health website for adults in Leeds, bringing together trusted information, self-help resources, and a directory of local and national support. For children and young people, the Mindmate website provides advice on common issues, self-help guidance, and information about support in Leeds. The national charity Mind also provides information and advice about mental health conditions and nationwide support.
- Looking at support offered by local charities and community groups in your neighbourhood like Touchstone and Leeds Mind. Local charities and groups can spotlight the support they offer on their social media using this template kit.
Throughout this week, the organisations will also share a guide on where to reach out when someone is in a crisis and struggling to cope with their mental health.
Arfan Hanif, Chief Executive at Touchstone, said:
“We know that it can feel hard to find support when you are struggling with difficult feelings or life experiences. As a mental health and wellbeing charity, we are always working to try to make it easier for people to better understand the support on offer and access it when and where they need it. This campaign is a key opportunity to remind the people of Leeds and West Yorkshire that they don’t have to struggle alone.
“We are proud to be working with our partners Leeds Mind, Forum Central, and MindWell to help people find the best routes into support and enable them to live fulfilling lives this World Mental Health Day.”
Lucy Hancock, CEO at Leeds Mind, added:
“People should have a choice in their mental health support, because what is best for one person may not be for another. For some, it might be speaking to their doctor or having therapy. For others, it could be connecting with someone who gets what they’re going through, building confidence through volunteering or finding help to stay in work.
“Through the #WhereToTurnLeeds campaign, we want people to know that support options are out there, and to make sense of the choices available to them. You are not alone; lots of people experience mental health challenges and you don’t have to wait until things are really difficult to reach out. You don’t need to figure everything out on your own. There are people, organisations and communities across Leeds – including the partners we’re proud to work alongside for this campaign – ready to be there for you and to help you take that first step.”
And Gemma Johnson, Programme Lead for MindWell, said:
“The #WhereToTurnLeeds campaign is about making it easier for people in Leeds to know where to start when they need support. Asking for help can be scary, and when you’re already struggling, trying to understand all the different options can feel overwhelming.
“This year marks 10 years since MindWell launched to provide trusted mental health information, practical self-help ideas, and details of local services and groups for adults in Leeds. A lot has changed in that time, but the need for clear information about where to turn is more important than ever.
“We all experience ups and downs in how we feel and sometimes need a bit of extra help. Leeds has a really wide range of support available, from talking therapies and crisis support to community groups and activities where you can get creative, learn a new skill or meet new people. Finding what works for you can take time, and we want people to know there are plenty of places to start.”
Use the hashtag #WhereToTurnLeeds on Instagram and other social media platforms to follow the campaign and share any key information.
This post is based on a press release issued by Touchstone
Photo: Shutterstock
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