How to Raise Awareness for Emotional Health Day

Emotional Health Day is a simple, student-friendly prompt to pause and pay attention to how we’re doing emotionally, and to make it easier for others to do the same. 

It’s not about forcing deep conversations or turning your campus into a counselling session for a day; it’s about making emotional wellbeing feel normal, talkable, and worth protecting in everyday life.

When it takes place and what it’s for

Emotional Health Day takes place on 24 February each year, and it was created to bring people together to focus on why emotional health matters and how strengthening it can help us handle life’s pressures. 

It began on 24 February 2022, marking the 25th anniversary of The Centre for Emotional Health, and it continues annually as a chance to raise awareness and encourage practical steps that support emotional wellbeing.

What “emotional health” actually means at uni

For students, emotional health is the day-to-day skill of noticing what you feel, understanding why it might be showing up, and responding in ways that help rather than harm. 

That can mean recognising stress before it becomes burnout, being able to name loneliness without shame, or learning how to reset after a tough week. 

When emotional health is in a good place, studying, socialising, and handling responsibilities tends to feel more manageable because you’re not constantly fighting your own internal pressure.

Why it matters so much for students right now

Student life is full of quiet strain that doesn’t always look dramatic from the outside: deadlines stacking up, juggling part-time work, financial pressure, culture shock for international students, friendship changes, family expectations, and the emotional whiplash of independence. 

Emotional Health Day matters because it creates a “permission slip” for people to say, “Actually, I’m not doing great,” earlier rather than later. It also helps reduce the idea that support is only for crisis moments, when in reality the best help often starts with small, earlier check-ins.

The most effective awareness is the kind that feels easy

Awareness works best when it’s low-effort to join and doesn’t ask students to perform vulnerability in public. 

If you want to do something meaningful on 24 February, focus on one action that is easy to repeat: a short check-in prompt, a reminder post that points to support routes, or a simple event that builds connection. 

Even sharing one message using #EmotionalHealthDay can link your campus conversation to the wider day and help more students feel like they’re part of something supportive rather than isolated.

How to start conversations without making it awkward

A lot of students avoid wellbeing conversations because they worry they’ll say the wrong thing or trigger something heavy. 

The trick is to keep the language normal and specific, like you would with any other topic. A good opener sounds like, “How’s everything feeling this week?” rather than “Are you okay?” because it invites a real answer without putting someone on the spot. 

If you’re messaging a friend, pairing care with practicality helps too, such as, “Fancy a quick walk and a coffee later? I’m checking in on people today.”

Turning awareness into support, not pressure

Raising awareness should never feel like you’re asking people to share personal stories they’re not ready to share. 

You can actively protect others by making your activities “opt-in” and low pressure, and by keeping the focus on emotional skills and support routes rather than personal disclosure. 

The goal is a safer culture where students feel able to speak up, but also feel equally respected if they choose to keep things private.

Student ideas that work well on campus

If you’re part of a society, halls committee, course rep group, or Student Union, you can run awareness in ways that feel natural. 

A two-minute check-in at the start of a meeting can be enough to shift the tone from “everyone’s pretending they’re fine” to “it’s normal to be human.” A simple “feelings board” can help students find words for what they’re experiencing, which is often the first step before seeking help. 

A single, well-designed poster or Instagram slide that clearly explains where and how to access campus support can be surprisingly powerful because many students don’t reach out simply due to confusion, not lack of need.

How to raise awareness online without over-sharing

Online awareness doesn’t have to be personal to be meaningful. You can post short, practical content that’s genuinely helpful, like a quick reminder that emotional health is worth maintaining, or a simple “If you’re struggling, here’s where you can start” message that points to your university support pages. 

You can also amplify trusted resources and use the day’s hashtags so your post is discoverable to people outside your immediate circle, which matters because many students scroll for reassurance long before they speak to someone out loud.

How to help a friend in a safe, supportive way

If someone opens up to you, your job isn’t to fix them; it’s to help them feel heard and less alone, then guide them towards appropriate support if needed. 

Listening without rushing to solutions is often the most stabilising thing you can offer, especially when someone feels overwhelmed. Keeping your response grounded can help too, like saying, “That sounds really hard, and I’m glad you told me,” then asking, “What would feel helpful right now?” 

This approach reduces panic, avoids accidental judgement, and keeps the focus on the person’s needs rather than your fear of getting it wrong.

When it’s more serious and urgent support is needed

Awareness days can sometimes bring difficult feelings to the surface, so it’s important to be clear that urgent help exists and that seeking it is a strong, sensible decision. 

In the United Kingdom, you can contact NHS 111 for urgent health advice, and guidance is available for accessing urgent mental health support when someone is in crisis or at risk.

UK helplines students can share confidently

It can be helpful to include reputable, well-known options in your awareness posts so students have a clear next step if they need support outside university hours. 

Samaritans offers confidential listening support by phone, and Shout provides confidential support by text, which some students find easier than speaking on the phone. 

When you share these, keep the tone calm and non-alarmist, framing them as support options rather than “only for emergencies,” because that reduces stigma and increases the chance someone will use them early.

Making your awareness inclusive for international students

If you have international students in your circles, small wording choices can make a big difference. 

Avoid slang that doesn’t translate well, explain acronyms the first time you use them, and signpost support in a way that’s culturally sensitive, because not everyone comes from a background where mental health conversations are normal. 

It also helps to acknowledge that being far from home can intensify emotions around identity, belonging, and pressure to “make it worth it,” and that emotional health support is not a sign of weakness or failure, but a practical part of adjusting well.

How to keep the momentum going after 24 February

The real win isn’t a single day of posts; it’s what your campus repeats after the spotlight moves on. 

You can keep the culture shift going by making short check-ins normal in meetings, keeping a permanent “support” highlight on your society or course page, and gently building habits that protect emotional health around high-stress periods like exams. 

When awareness becomes routine rather than occasional, students stop treating support as something dramatic and start treating it as something normal.

A final word that matters

Emotional Health Day is powerful because it’s simple: it reminds students that feelings aren’t a private failure to hide, but a normal part of being human that deserves attention and care. 

On 24 February, even one thoughtful action – a check-in, a supportive post, a small campus moment that encourages connection – can make someone feel seen at the exact time they need it. 

That’s how awareness becomes help, and how help becomes a healthier student community.