Health and Wellbeing Month 2026 marked the fifth year of the Global Alliance’s collective focus on mental health and wellbeing — and a clear evolution in ambition. This year’s programme moved decisively beyond awareness, placing workplace systems, leadership responsibility and human rights at the centre of the conversation.

Delivered under the theme From stigma to systems: building healthier professional workplaces together, the month brought members together across regions to focus on what most shapes wellbeing at work: organisational culture, leadership behaviour and everyday professional practices. Regional Councils played a central role, with Asia Pacific/ASEAN and North Africa/South Asia choosing to host regionally led webinars that reflected local legal, cultural and professional realities.

Engagement was strong. The Asia Pacific/ASEAN webinar attracted 156 registrations, while the South Asia session recorded 151 registrations, demonstrating clear appetite for open, practical discussion on mental health at work. Grounded in lived experience and expert insight, these conversations reinforced a shared understanding that mental health challenges in public relations are widespread, shaped by systems, and not a matter of individual weakness.

A defining feature of Health and Wellbeing Month 2026 was the continued promotion of the WHO QualityRights initiative. Developed with a strong human rights lens, QualityRights offers free, self-guided e-training designed to build confidence, capability and shared language around mental health. It supports professionals and leaders to recognise how workplaces can either protect or undermine wellbeing — and how they can lead positive change.

Health and Wellbeing Month does not end with January. It reflects an ongoing commitment to learning, leadership and accountability across the Global Alliance community.

Call to action

All Global Alliance members are encouraged to register for and complete the WHO QualityRights free self-guided e-training, and to promote it within their organisations and networks. By building shared understanding and capability, we can continue the shift from stigma to systems — together. Access the WHO QualityRights e-training here: https://www.who.int/teams/mental-health-and-substance-use/policy-law-rights/qr-e-training