Low awareness about anxiety, and its close association with depression are the focus of this year's Mental Health Week.
One in five people are affected by depression, while a quarter of Australians suffer from anxiety.
Beyond Blue Chief Executive Leonie Young says talking about the illnesses is the best way to remove the stigma associated with it.
“It’s a chance for people to talk about mental illness, to seek help if they need it and to make other people aware of what’s happening around them.”
Meanwhile meditation and yoga classes have been planned as part of the event.
The initiative will be launched at the Healthy Mind Festival at Martin Place.
Assistant Health Minister Barbara Perry says this year's theme is resilience.
“As a community we need to take stock of our lives and we need to appreciate the little things in life that matter to us.”
“We really should try to focus on the positives and always take the time to care about our minds as well as our bodies,” she said.