Each year, World Mental Health Day encourages people across the world to talk more openly about mental health and wellbeing. First observed in 1992, it aims to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and remind us that mental health is something we all have — and need to look after.
This year’s theme focuses on the importance of creating spaces where we can reconnect with ourselves and others, finding calm and balance in a world that can often feel overwhelming.
For Lucy Pittaway, mental health is something that has always been close to her heart. In 2023, she launched The Little Lucy Collection — a series of six paintings created in partnership with The Junction Foundation, a Tees Valley charity that supports children, young people, and families facing challenging circumstances.
The collection was inspired by the experiences that shape us in childhood and the ways those early moments continue to affect us as adults. Each painting tells part of Little Lucy’s story — a young girl navigating life’s ups and downs, from the worry of change and the comfort of friendship, to learning that after every storm, there can still be light.
Through pieces such as After the Rain Comes the Rainbow and By Your Side, Lucy explores themes of resilience, empathy, and hope. The collection reminds us that while we cannot always choose what happens to us, we can choose how we respond — and that acts of kindness, creativity, and connection can make a real difference.
A portion of the proceeds from the collection was donated to The Junction Foundation, helping them continue their work to build confidence and provide support to young people across the region. It’s a partnership rooted in shared values — compassion, understanding, and belief in the potential for change.
As we reflect on World Mental Health Day, Little Lucy stands as a reminder that art can start conversations, inspire understanding, and help us see that no one faces life’s challenges alone.
Wherever you are today, take a moment to pause, breathe, and reconnect — to nature, to creativity, and to yourself.
