Mental Health Matters Poster Campaign 2026
Mental Health Awareness Through Art
Launched at the Curragh Races, Sunday 15 March 2026
The National World Mental Health Day Poster Campaign returns for its third year in 2026, launched at the St. Patrick’s Day Race Meeting on Sunday, 15 March 2026, at the Curragh Racecourse.
A dedicated 'Mental Health Matters' race ran on the day, marking the official launch of the 2026 campaign. Poster submissions are now open, and people across Ireland are invited to begin submitting their creative responses to this year’s themes.
Delivered through a national collaboration between Mental Health Matters, An Post, and leading national mental health charities, Year Three continues to expand the reach, depth, and impact of this inclusive mental health initiative.
You’re warmly invited to meet the Mental Health Matters team at the Curragh, learn more about the campaign, and explore how you, your workplace, school, or community can take part.
If something you’ve seen or experienced today has stirred emotions, you’re not alone.
Support is available.
See organisations here that offer confidential help, understanding and practical pathways forward. Reaching out is a strength.
Start thinking. Start creating.
Campaign Overview:
A National Movement for Mental Health Awareness
The National World Mental Health Day Poster Campaign is a nationwide invitation to reflect, create, and connect through visual storytelling. It encourages individuals, groups, and organisations across Ireland to explore mental health through original poster design - using creativity to open conversations, reduce stigma, and strengthen connection.
Each poster represents a voice.
A lived experience.
A moment of reflection shaped by real life.
Together, these posters form a shared national conversation about mental health, wellbeing, dignity, and belonging.
Inclusive by Design:
Categories for Every Community
The campaign is intentionally designed to be inclusive, accessible, and representative of real lives, with categories that reflect different life stages, settings, and experiences:
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Workplace - If you work, whether you are applying under your workplace or as yourself.
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Community - If you have a passion to support your community, OR if you don’t identify with any of the above you can apply under this category. Community also offers a space for underrepresented voices, including Neurodiverse Networks, LGBT+, Black & Ethnic Minority, Traveller & Roma communities, and more.
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University - If you are of university going age, whether you attend or not.
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School - If you are of school going age, whether you attend or not.
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Disability - If you have a disability and would like to apply as an individual or with a group.
These categories recognise that mental health is not one-size-fits-all - and that everyone, in every context, deserves to be seen, heard, and included.
Whether you are an individual, a student, an employee, an educator, a community group, or a national organisation, this campaign is for you.
New for 2026:
Participation & Resource Packs
New for 2026, Participation Packs are available to support individuals and groups taking part in the campaign.
These packs are designed to help people:
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prepare their poster submissions
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engage colleagues, students, or communities in meaningful conversation
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use the campaign as a starting point for local reflection and connection
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have more fun and creativity along the way
The campaign is not just about the final poster - it’s about the conversations, collaboration, and care that happen in the process.
The Poster Campaign is supported by national partners who share a commitment to ethical practice, transparency, safeguarding, and responsible mental health awareness.
Our 2026 National Partners include:
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Nua Healthcare Services – Campaign Headline Sponsor
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An Post – National partner supporting reach and visibility
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Samaritans – National mental health charity partner
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Aware – National mental health charity partner
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HSE Office for Human Rights and Equality Policy – National public-sector partner
These partnerships help ensure the campaign is supportive, responsible, and grounded in care, while allowing creativity and lived experience to remain at the heart of the work.
National Partners
A Shared Commitment to Ethical Engagement
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Upcoming Dates For Your Diary
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Save the date: Sunday, 15 March 2026 - Join us at the Curragh for the St. Patrick’s Day Races and the Mental Health Matters race
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Submissions open from 15 March 2026
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Start creating now - reflect on what mental health means to you or your community
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FREE TO ENTER!
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Please see Terms and Conditions here.
What Will You Win
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The top winning designs from each category will be celebrated as national resources in poster form, available to the Irish public, communities, and workplaces across Ireland for World Mental Health Day.
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An Post will be making the winning designs into postcards and distributing them nationally
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The winning designs will be celebrated at a national launch event in September 2026, where you will have the opportunity to share your inspiration for your design with a wide audience.
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Prizes will also be given at the launch event for the top 5 winning designs, to the value of €250.
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This is your chance to make a significant difference and inspire positive change in mental health awareness nationwide.
2025 Winners!
Take a closer look at last year's standout designs and delve into the compelling stories of inspiration behind each piece.
Eimear McDonagh
Workplace Category Winner
Lorna Quinn
Community Category Winner
Samantha Mulligan
Disability Category Winner
Yevis Gallagher
University Category Winner
Faye O’Sullivan
School Category Winner
Mary Orlva
Highly Commended
