World Mental Health Day 2026
By Kathleen Moore Avila, Counselling Psychotherapist
As we approach World Mental Health Day (October 10th) and World Mental Health Month this October. It is important to acknowledge the importance of mental health supports for people living with Parkinson’s and their care partners. Mental health support is not a luxury. It is an essential part of living well with Parkinson’s, helping people and their families find hope, connection, and strength as they adapt to life’s challenges.
A Parkinson’s diagnosis can affect far more than physical health. Although clinically classified by motor symptoms, including rigidity and bradykinesia, the psychological symptoms can also present significant challenges (Hinnell et al., 2012). These difficulties likely arise from a complex interplay of neurological and psychosocial factors (Wang et al., 2025).
Receiving a diagnosis can bring feelings of shock, fear, anxiety, grief, and uncertainty, while also challenging a person’s sense of identity and confidence. Many people find themselves asking, “Who am I now?” as they adjust to changes in their life. Care partners are also deeply affected. Alongside supporting their loved one, they often carry worries about the future, changing family roles, and the emotional impact of caring. Counselling as a mental health support offers a safe, compassionate space to talk openly about these experiences. Approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) can help people manage anxiety and unhelpful thoughts, while Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) supports people to respond to themselves with kindness rather than self-criticism.
Mental health support helps people living with Parkinson’s and their care partners to:
- Manage anxiety and strong emotions
- Process grief, loss, and uncertainty
- Adjust to changes in identity and roles
- Develop self-compassion and resilience
- Strengthen coping skills and emotional wellbeing
- Feel less alone in their journey
The lack of readily available mental health support is a widespread issue not exclusive to People with Parkinson’s. However, issues are often exacerbated by the unseen complexity of PD symptoms particularly the non -motor symptoms. All people with Parkinson’s and their loved ones should have access to timely mental health supports such as counselling.
Feeling heard and understood in therapy fosters a sense of hope and reduces feelings of isolation and shame, allowing People with Parkinson’s to feel emotionally validated and able to work through challenges. Furthermore, it helps to reduce negative thinking, encouraging positive reframing and perspective taking. It also provides a space to reflect philosophically with self-compassion on the imperfect and finite nature of life, normalising the shared human condition of suffering/illness. Realisation of this common humanity fosters a greater sense of interconnectedness reducing the isolation and stigma that can be common in PD.
If you or your care partner would benefit from counselling support, call the Parkinson’s Ireland Helpline on 1800 359 359 to request a referral for our counselling service.