October brings two reminders we cannot ignore. World Mental Health Day (10th) asks us to look honestly at how we are really doing. Happiness at Work Week (6-10th) asks us to think about the hours we spend in our jobs and whether those hours give back to us or drain us. Together they pose a bigger question:
How well are we really, and what role does our work play in that answer?
I know how easy it is to pretend you are fine. I did it too. Ten years ago, I was in a senior role in Government, raising two young children and carrying the invisible weight of unprocessed trauma. From the outside I looked successful, always delivering, always available. Inside I was empty. One morning on a run I broke down crying and for a moment, thought about stepping into the road just to make the noise in my head stop. That moment forced me to face the truth: I was not mentally well. You cannot outrun your problems; they catch up with you eventually. No matter how perfect life looks on the outside, what matters is how it feels inside.
Positive psychology reminds us that wellbeing is not just the absence of illness but the presence of positive emotions, engagement, positive relationships, meaning and accomplishment. At work this can mean noticing what went well today, using your strengths more often, and investing in relationships that sustain you rather than letting perfectionism drain you.
World Mental Health Day matters because it opens space for honesty and vulnerability. Happiness at Work Week matters because work is where many of us spend most of our waking hours. The two together remind us that mental health is not separate from daily life. It shows up in deadlines, meetings, emails and those quiet moments when you feel like you are carrying more than you can hold.
So my hope is that this October you give yourself one act of permission. It could be leaving work on time, asking for help, or simply admitting you are tired. That single step is not weakness; it is the start of a different story about what happiness at work and mental health mean for you.
Article written by Anna Shears, Positive psychology coach and consultant.
