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10 October: what is celebrated today
10 October is a date that invites us to reflect on the most essential things in human and natural life: mental health, the right to a home, food, justice and respect for nature. In a single day, five commemorations converge which, although different, share a common purpose: to remind us of our responsibility towards others and towards the world we inhabit.
World Mental Health Day
Every 10 October, the world pauses to talk about what so often goes unspoken: mental health. Promoted by the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) and supported by the WHO, this day seeks to break down stigma and promote equitable access to psychological care.
Mental health is not a luxury; it is a necessity. Behind every smile, every working or school day, there are people fighting invisible battles. Timely detection, treatment and support can save lives, reduce suffering and strengthen more empathetic and humane communities.
World Homeless Day
10 October also marks World Homeless Day, a day of awareness and solidarity with those living without a roof over their heads or in undignified conditions. Since 2010, this date has sought to put people whom society so often ignores centre stage.
Homelessness reflects profound social inequalities. According to the UN, around 900 million people live in precarious settlements or on the streets themselves. Not having a home means not only lacking physical shelter, but also losing dignity, health and hope.
The call of this day is clear: everyone deserves a place to live and feel safe.
World Egg Day
The second Friday in October has a very particular flavour: it is World Egg Day, promoted since 1996 by the International Egg Commission.
This simple, universal food is a nutritional gem: a source of protein, vitamins and minerals that strengthen the body and mind.
Beyond the kitchen, the egg symbolises life, renewal and balance, reminding us that the simplest resources can have a profound impact on global health and nutrition.
World Day Against the Death Penalty
Since 2003, 10 October has also marked World Day Against the Death Penalty, an initiative of the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty, which brings together more than 150 organisations from across the planet.
This day speaks up for human rights and dignity. Although many countries have abolished this practice, it still persists in places where people are sentenced and executed in the name of justice. The campaign reminds us that no state should have the power to take life, and that true justice is built on compassion, not irreversible punishment.
World Botanic Gardens Day
Finally, the second Friday in October blossoms with World Botanic Gardens Day, promoted by organisations such as Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Botanic gardens are green sanctuaries of knowledge and hope, where thousands of plant species that maintain the planet’s balance are conserved. They are spaces of education, research and beauty that remind us of biodiversity’s vital role in our survival.
Together, these observances on 10 October invite us to look at life from every angle: caring for our minds, offering shelter, eating well, defending human dignity and protecting nature.
Because only when we care for everything around us — people, living beings and the planet — can we truly speak of wellbeing.