Mental Health Matters 2025 Poster Competition

Barbara Louise Brennan, Ibec’s 2024 winner of the Outstanding Contribution to Wellbeing award.

In a world where conversations about mental health are more important than ever, the Mental Health Matters 2025 National Poster Competition is inviting people from all walks of life - and work - to get involved.

Now open for submissions until June 27th, this powerful initiative is calling on individuals, community groups, and organisations across Ireland to use creativity to start meaningful conversations about mental health. Backed by national partners such as An Post and The HSE, and proudly sponsored this year by Nua Healthcare Services, the competition culminates in a high-profile launch event in Dublin this September, ahead of World Mental Health Day on October 10th.

Why a Workplace Category?

While the competition includes general and community categories, it also features a specific Workplace Category - and for good reason. Work is where most of us spend a significant portion of our lives, yet talking openly about mental health at work can still feel challenging. This dedicated category provides employers with a unique opportunity to engage their teams in creative, inclusive, and stigma-busting dialogue.

“By encouraging staff to reflect on and express their own perspectives on mental health, we’re seeing not only powerful art, but also powerful culture change,” says Barbara Louise Brennan, campaign founder and mental health and human rights consultant. “The workplace category is about moving beyond policy and into connection - giving employees a new way to participate, reflect, and lead on mental wellness.”

Organisations that enter are not only contributing to a national conversation; they’re also investing in employee wellbeing and visibility, with the chance for their team's artwork to be nationally recognised and distributed as part of Ireland’s official World Mental Health Day materials.

A National Celebration in Dublin

The winners of the 2025 competition will be revealed at a vibrant launch event this September in Dublin. Hosted in a creative space that reflects the campaign’s vision, the event will include an awards ceremony and the public unveiling of the winning poster designs - which will be distributed nationwide in partnership with An Post and other campaign supporters.

Whether you're a mental health advocate, a HR leader, or someone who just wants to help your team engage differently, this is a unique moment to get involved.

Resources for Employers

All participating workplaces will gain access to downloadable campaign assets, conversation guides, and communications templates - designed to help integrate mental health into the heart of your workplace culture. And for organisations who want to go even further, Mental Health Matters offers ongoing workshops, strategy support, and tailored programming.

How to Enter

Entering is free and easy: visit the official campaign website to find out how your workplace can take part. You’ll find submission guidelines, judging criteria, downloadable templates, and inspiration from last year’s winning entries.

This is more than a competition — it’s a creative movement.

If you’re looking for a fresh way to foster inclusion, raise awareness, and spark real conversations about mental health in your organisation, this is your moment.

Let your team’s creativity be part of a national campaign for change.

Visit the campaign site to enter before June 27th.

Mental Health is one of the eight pillars of the KeepWell Mark framework and a fundamental component of a healthy workplace. The KeepWell Mark provides independent recognition of an organisation’s commitment to workplace wellbeing, grounded in clear standards and a holistic approach to strategy. It helps build employee trust, enhance employer brand, and embed wellbeing into the core of organisational culture.

For more information on The KeepWell Mark visit www.thekeepwellmark.ie

To find out more about Ibec’s suite of training programmes visit www.ibecacademy.ie, and www.ibecconsulting.ie for all your workplace wellbeing consultancy needs.