Mental Health Matters Poster Campaign 2026
Mental Health Awareness Through Art
Launching at the Curragh Races, Sunday 15 March 2026
The National World Mental Health Day Poster Campaign returns for its third year in 2026, launching at the St. Patrick’s Day Race Meeting on Sunday, 15 March 2026, at the Curragh Racecourse.
A dedicated 'Mental Health Matters' race will be run on the day, marking the official launch of the 2026 campaign. This is the moment when poster submissions 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.
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:
-
Workplace
-
Community
-
University
-
School
-
Disability
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 will be available to support individuals and groups taking part in the campaign.
These packs are designed to help people:
-
prepare their poster submissions
-
engage colleagues, students, or communities in meaningful conversation
-
use the campaign as a starting point for local reflection and connection
-
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:
-
Nua Healthcare Services – Campaign Headline Sponsor
-
An Post – National partner supporting reach and visibility
-
Samaritans – National mental health charity partner
-
Aware – National mental health charity partner
-
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
.png)
.png){kind=small}
Upcoming Dates For Your Diary
-
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
-
Submissions open from 15 March 2026
-
Start creating now - reflect on what mental health means to you or your community
-
Watch this page for submission details, timelines, and participation packs
-
FREE TO ENTER!
2025 Winners!
Take a closer look at last year's standout designs and delve into the compelling stories of inspiration behind each piece.
Workplace Category Winner - Eimear McDonagh
My design reflects how connecting with nature nourishes the mind, but it also symbolises how a person can thrive in a nurturing environment. Leaving a turbulent home when I was 16 left me struggling with my mental health and my self-worth. The isolation impacted my potential and my growth. In later years I sought help, and it changed my life. My happiest childhood memories are of being out in nature with my grandfather, and how the solace provided me with positive emotions. Seasons change and turbulent times pass, and support, care and guidance allowed me to heal, grow and flourish
Community Category Winner - Lorna Quinn
I wanted to create a poster that depicted how lonely, painful, dark and isolating it can feel when experiencing the harsh, hard, unrelenting and unkind inner demons that can take away the colour, joy, spontaneity and sheer enjoyment from life. The central figure in the picture is looking on in envy at the colourful world taking place around them; the musicians playing music, the couple dancing, the friends chatting, the romantic connection on the bench, the neighbours talking and the house being sold. Such is the power and constant hold of the inner critics for this central figure, they cannot imagine being part of such a carefree, fun-filled and expressive colourful world. Their heart is sad, their whole being is hurting, and their mind is plagued with the weight of self-criticism. The weather patterns in both worlds convey the contrast of emotions felt also. The sunshine and warmth felt in the colourful community conveys ease, presence, connection and friendship, whereas the lightning streak, clouds, rain and coldness represent the central figures inner storm and turbulence felt within. It can be so hard to articulate accurately in words the many thoughts / feelings / fears / worries and concerns carried within. This poster competition was a wonderful creative opportunity to personally express what life can look like from the eyes of someone who is struggling under the clouds and feeling the weight and darkness of an inner storm.
Disability Category Winner - Samantha Mulligan
I designed this because I have disabilities, and I believe people with disabilities need hope. That it can also mean people with mental health issues can have hope that they can overcome come anything. It's about hope in life even though we struggle with our mental health and believe that there is hope. The flowers signify the people in our lives that love us care for us and want to help, and that we’re not alone in struggling with our mental health.
University Category Winner - Yevis Gallagher
This work isn't just art: it's a reminder to breathe, feel, and move forward, no matter how dark the past seems.
-
The sun represents the journey from darkness to light, from despair to new beginnings, and a path to hope.
-
The butterfly represents hope, freedom, strength, and the support of community organisations that help people rise and move forward with dignity as human beings.
-
The palm tree from Venezuela: A symbol of resilience for my family, my roots, and the unwavering strength they have given me; a reminder that, even far from home, I must remain strong like the trunk of the tree; I am not alone.
-
The Caribbean Sea and Donegal reflect movement and healing; it teaches me to keep flowing, like water. We must keep moving forward. The white path represents the Wild Atlantic Way in Donegal, a symbol of freedom and exploration. Leading to peace, courage, and discovery.
-
The camera symbolises the importance of perceiving beauty in nature, sound, air, and most of all, in art.
-
The heart symbolises the pure love of our loved ones, including our pets, a love that asks for nothing in return but gives us the strength to carry on
School Category Winner - Faye O’Sullivan
I would like my poster to encourage people to think before they speak. Words can be damaging and can cause pain. Everyone takes insults differently. Some might shrug it off while others take their toll. Some people are better at hiding their emotions which, I think, probably isn’t good. You can only cram a few things into a tight space. Once there’s too much, they burst out in a flood. It could be a flood of tears, a rush of anger or a wave of fear. You can sink to the bottom or you can swim above it. Remember, choose your words wisely.
Highly Commended - Mary Orlva
Hi! I’m Mary and I’m 9 years old. I love animals and love drawing — these are the things that make me happy! In my drawing, I painted a cute hamster doing yoga on a blue mat. 🐹♀️ 💙
I chose this because yoga helps people feel calm, strong, and happy inside. I do little yoga stretches when I feel upset or when my head is full of too many thoughts.
The hamster is sitting in a peaceful pose, with little paws together, like he’s saying: “Everything is okay.” I want everyone to know that doing yoga or just stopping for a quiet moment can really help your mental health — even if you're small and fluffy like my hamster!
Love, Mary
2024 Winners!
View last 2024’s winning designs and learn about the personal stories that brought each piece to life.
University Poster - Shaunna Byrne
When I was around 15 or 16, I went through a dark period, feeling overwhelmed and lost. I would sit by the water, contemplating my life and seeking an escape from my pain. Fast forward nearly ten years, and that same water has become my sanctuary, a place where I find peace and solace. On days when I feel down, it’s my refuge. This painting represents my journey and highlights the importance of mental health.
School Poster - Jessie Dilleen
My concept is that everyone has different ways of looking after their mental health so I drew a range of people and the things that they do to stay well; like baking, journaling, art, sport etc. I also feel like with mental health everyone is stronger together and life is always better with a pet! The first letter of each of the characters names spells.
Workplace Poster - Niamh Healy Moore
I love 20th century abstract art and took inspiration from Wassily Kandinsky, Piet Mondrian and Picasso to create this poster submission. I wanted to create a thought provoking composition for the poster design, to create conversation and debate. The composition is absolutely open to many interpretations. What I see, is the fast paced and sometimes relentless motion of work and life in the composition. With a balanced, symmetrical focal point, catching and segmenting tasks or dropping tasks, even if they are incomplete.
Community Poster - Caroline Morgan
I am a 29 year old artist and art teacher. My sister is a mental health nurse and so this issue is always at the forefront of my mind and I base a lot of projects off of it. I wanted to use colours I found symbolic of depression and mentally tough times combined with lighter colours that express hope. I used idea of hands reaching from the depths towards hope, while the shades of blue decrease as they close the distance to the hopeful future.