OCD Awareness week
OCD Awareness Week is a time to increase understanding of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), challenge stigma, and stand alongside people affected by OCD and related disorders.
OCD can be distressing, isolating, and widely misunderstood. It is not simply about cleanliness, organisation, or wanting things a particular way. OCD can involve unwanted intrusive thoughts, fears, doubts, urges, images, and repetitive behaviours or mental rituals that take up time, cause significant distress, or interfere with daily life.
This October, OCD WA is bringing people together across Western Australia for education, connection, community action, and advocacy. Whether you live with OCD, support someone who does, work in health or community services, or simply want to learn more, there is a place for you.
11-17 oCTOBER 2026
#ThatsOCD Campaign
This OCD Awareness Week, OCD WA is joining the global #ThatsOCD Campaign.
Many people living with OCD have heard—or thought themselves—“I didn’t know that was OCD.” The campaign shines a light on the many ways OCD can show up, including experiences that may be hidden, misunderstood, or dismissed.
OCD can involve intrusive fears about harm, illness, relationships, responsibility, mistakes, morality, identity, contamination, or things feeling “just right.” Compulsions can include visible actions, such as checking or washing, but they may also be internal: replaying conversations, counting, mentally reviewing events, seeking reassurance, avoiding triggers, or trying to cancel out an unwanted thought.
These experiences can look different from person to person, but they can all be OCD.
Throughout the week, we will share information, lived-experience perspectives, and practical ways to support greater understanding. You can help us to spread awareness by following our socials and sharing our posts with the hashtags #OCDWA, #OCDWeek, #ThatsOCD and by tagging @ocdwa and @iocdf.
Accurate information helps replace myths with understanding.
Explore the IOCDF’s shareable facts, graphics, and resources to learn more about OCD and help others understand it better.
You can download and share these resources during OCD Awareness Week using #OCDWeek and tagging @iocdf.
OCD Facts & Resources
OCD Awareness Week is for everyone. There are many ways to take part: attend an event, build your understanding, wear teal, share accurate information, invite a friend, or help make your community more welcoming for people affected by OCD.
Join OCD WA in creating greater awareness, connection, and hope across Western Australia and be sure to use the hashtags #OCDWA, #OCDWeek, #OCDWalk and tag @ocdwa and @iocdf.
Get Involved
Learn About OCD: Psychoeducation Workshops
Monday 12 October 2026 | 2PM & 6PM
Kardinya Lesser Hall | 51 Williamson Road, Kardinya
OCD WA will offer two interactive 90-minute psychoeducation workshops during the Community Day.
These workshops are designed to provide practical, evidence-informed information about OCD in a respectful, accessible, and inclusive environment. They are suitable for people living with OCD or related disorders, family members, friends, supporters, students, health professionals, and anyone seeking a better understanding of OCD.
The sessions will explore:
What OCD is
The relationship between obsessions, anxiety, uncertainty, and compulsions
The many ways OCD may present, including less visible experiences
Why reassurance, checking, avoidance, and mental rituals can maintain the OCD cycle
Evidence-based treatment approaches, including exposure and response prevention (ERP)
There will be opportunities for reflection and questions. Participants are welcome to attend either session.
Registration is encouraged to help OCD WA plan a comfortable, accessible, and meaningful experience for everyone.
OCD Awareness Week Community Day
Monday 12 October 2026 | 1-9PM
Kardinya Lesser Hall | 51 Williamson Road, Kardinya
Join OCD WA for a welcoming Community Day to mark the beginning of OCD Awareness Week.
This event is an opportunity for people with lived experience of OCD or related disorders, family members, supporters, students, health professionals, and community members to come together in a compassionate and non-judgmental space.
Come along to learn more about OCD, connect with OCD WA, meet others in the community, and find out how you can be part of the week’s activities. There will be opportunities to engage in conversation, access information, and attend our interactive psychoeducation workshops.
You are welcome to attend for part of the day, come before or after a workshop, or simply drop in to say hello and learn more about OCD WA.
OCD WA Community Walk
Sunday 18 October 2026 | From 9AM
Jarrah Pavilion | Kings Park and Botanic Garden | Fraser Ave, Perth
Walk with OCD WA during OCD Awareness Week to raise awareness, build connection, and show people affected by OCD and related disorders that they are not alone.
The OCD WA Community Walk is about coming together. Whether you walk with a friend, family member, colleague, peer group, or on your own, your participation helps make OCD more visible and strengthens community connection. Especially when you share with #OCDWA, #OCDWeek, #OCDWalk and tag @ocdwa and @iocdf.
This OCD Awareness Week, help us go #TealForOCD!
Teal is the recognised colour of OCD awareness. When buildings, landmarks, workplaces, schools, community groups, and social-media feeds light up in teal, they send a simple but powerful message: people affected by OCD are seen, valued, and not alone.
OCD WA has secured twelve local landmarks and community spaces in 2026! We invite councils, businesses, schools, universities, health services, and community organisations to join us.
You can participate by:
Wearing teal during OCD Awareness Week
Lighting your workplace, home, school, or community venue in teal
Sharing teal-themed photos or videos on social media
Using #OCDWA, #OCDWeek, #TealForOCD
Tagging @ocdwa and @iocdf
Encouraging your local council, workplace, or community organisation to take part
Starting a conversation about what OCD really is
Every teal light, post, conversation, and act of support helps challenge stigma and offers hope to people who may be feeling alone.
Light Up for OCD
ocd awareness week calendar
There is something for everyone during OCD Awareness Week!
Explore the full OCD WA calendar to find community events, workshops, activities, and more.
Some people recognise OCD symptoms only after years of distress, uncertainty, or trying to manage alone. Others may notice that a loved one is spending a great deal of time checking, avoiding, seeking reassurance, washing, mentally reviewing, or trying to gain certainty about a fear or doubt.
If you are wondering whether OCD may be affecting you or someone close to you, an online screening tool can be a useful starting point.
A screener cannot diagnose OCD and does not replace an assessment with a qualified health professional. However, it may help you reflect on your experiences and decide whether seeking professional support could be helpful.
If symptoms are causing distress, taking up a lot of time, affecting relationships, work, study, or daily activities, consider speaking with a GP, psychologist, psychiatrist, or other appropriately qualified clinician with knowledge of OCD.
Wondering Whether OCD May Be Affecting You?
You do not have to navigate OCD alone.
OCD WA provides education, connection, advocacy, and information for people affected by OCD and related disorders across Western Australia. Whether you are seeking support for yourself, supporting someone else, looking for evidence-informed information, or wanting to connect with the OCD community, we are here to help you take the next step.
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