Southampton residents and businesses are being urged to get involved with a citywide charity campaign launching next month to promote positive mental health and wellbeing.
Southampton City Council and NHS-endorsed, Southampton Mental Health Network, is asking people to come together for its ‘Power of Hello’ Campaign – counting down to the city’s Mental Health Friendly Day.
Coordinator from Southampton Mental Health Network, Chloe Naegeli explains: “Building on actions from the Southampton Mental Health and Wellbeing Action Strategy and our ethos to make Southampton a mental health friendly city, we’re launching our Power of Hello Campaign in December to build to Southampton Mental Health Friendly Day in 2026.
“In September, our members and partners joined forces to launch the very first Southampton Mental Health Friendly Day, which will take place on July 8, and we aim to make this an annual event. This will be an annual dedicated day for our city to come together, make real personal connections and promote and share access to resources for mental health support.
“Our Power of Hello Campaign will focus on celebrating good mental health, encouraging social connectedness and promoting the simple yet powerful act of saying ‘hello’ to each other and how important that is. It will culminate on July 8 with social gatherings in all corners of the city, at a grassroots level, with an emphasis on meeting and greeting each other.”
The citywide Power of Hello Campaign promotes a simple message encouraging residents and those that work in Southampton to connect with others, reduce isolation and strengthen community ties.
Chloe adds: “We would like as many businesses, organisations, charities, companies and individuals as possible to get involved – even if just in a small way by saying ‘hello’ to someone in the street or making eye contact and sharing a smile on a bus journey. The simple, friendly act of acknowledging another person and their existence could make someone’s day – and yours too – helping boost positive mental wellbeing.
“We’re launching this at this time of year when awareness of loneliness is more prominent than ever, but also, December 20 is the official launch of our 200-day countdown to Southampton Mental Health Friendly Day 2026. Our Power of Hello Campaign will run throughout the 200 days and feature in members and partners events and awareness initiatives too. We’re giving everyone 200 days, so 200 good reasons to say hello to someone, but equally love it if everyone starts sooner!”
Charities, businesses, educational establishments and individuals are invited to join the countdown to Southampton Mental Health Friendly Day 2026 by supporting the Power of Hello Campaign.
“We’re hoping everyone gets behind it – whether in a big or small way – to help raise awareness of our ultimate goal to make Southampton a mental health friendly city, which is good for everyone. We have created a toolkit on our website for people to download regardless of whether they are Network members or not, so they can display Power of Hello posters in shop windows and on noticeboards and use Power of Hello visuals on their websites, on social media and in any newsletters sent out.”
As Southampton Mental Health Friendly Day 2026 draws closer, Southampton Mental Health Network is asking existing neighbourhood groups or organisations that already host regular sociable events such as coffee mornings, lunches and teatime events to get in touch. The Network would like to help promote these events on its website, via social media and its member newsletters to help foster connection and confidence for those who may feel hesitant to join social spaces.
Chloe concludes: “We’re better together. By working collaboratively with awareness raising campaigns like this and our Southampton Mental Health Friendly Day, we can make Southampton a city where positive mental health and wellbeing thrive.”
Among those organisations already involved with the citywide Southampton Mental Health Friendly Day and Power of Hello Campaign are Southampton City Council (SCC), Hampshire and Isle of Wight (HIOW) NHS Healthcare Trust and Southampton Voluntary Service (SVS), which has been supporting volunteering and voluntary organisations in Southampton since 1968, and KvLS Mental Health Support, which offers counselling.
Also involved are the charities No Limits, which offers free information, advice, counselling and support to children and young people under the age of 26 in Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton, and Communicare in Southampton, which works with all generations, but predominantly older residents, to help beat loneliness and isolation.
Southampton Mental Health Network became publicly active in 2019 and, with more than 100 member organisations involved in its development, became a charity in September 2022.
Working together, these organisations want to make Southampton a mental wellbeing friendly city, ensuring equality, diversity and inclusion for all.
Southampton Mental Health Network aims to create welcoming spaces for discussion, while being understanding and supportive of those living with mental health challenges.
For further details or to join Southampton Mental Health Network, visit smhn.org.uk.
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