According to the WHO, mental health is a “state of well-being in which the individual realizes their own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to contribute to their community”. The definition might be wordy but the essence behind it is simple, the state of living life to the fullest. And as one might imagine, Mental Health Day is aimed to recognize and honor that essence.
10th October is marked as World Mental Health Day annually around the globe. Right from a myriad of notifications on everyone’s phones to sighting green ribbons everywhere one looks, it is not uncommon for people to wonder what all the fuss is about. And what with the quick-paced nature of the contemporary world, more often than not, just liking a post and sharing a story seems more than sufficient, and not many people bother to go the extra mile and take an effort to captivate the spirit of the day and emanate it to other people.
So how then to appreciate and encaptivate the essence of it? Why by knowing and understanding all about the day of course. The basic thoughts that come to everyone’s mind as soon as one wishes to know more about something are three questions: what, why, and how?
Mental Health Day is recognized by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to educate, spread awareness and destigmatize all the issues surrounding mental health. It is a day to lend a helping hand and support all those going through mental issues and promote the mental well-being of every individual on earth. It provides a platform for both individuals undergoing mental concerns as well as stakeholders working on mental health. The World Federation for Mental Health is an organization aimed at mental health. The inaugural celebration of World Mental Health Day in 1992 was conducted by it. Deputy Secretary General Richard Hunter proposed Mental Health Day in 1992. Before 1994, the day's only objectives were to raise public awareness of mental health issues and promote mental health advocacy.
But why. Why Mental Health Day? According to a report, “In 2017, 792 million people worldwide experienced a mental health problem”. This translates to one in ten people worldwide. One in five people have suicidal thoughts, one in fourteen people self-harm, and one in fifteen people attempt suicide.
Mental health disorders remain widely under-reported. Countries with lower incomes where data is scant, and there is less awareness and treatment for mental health disorders are at higher risk. Apart from this, the number of people reporting mental health problems has been going up over the years. There have been increasing reports of suicides and self-harm, almost double what it was a decade ago. This raises the implication that coping with mental health disorders is getting harder for people. All these factors contribute to the need for advocacy of mental health and spreading awareness about the advances and evolving practices of the same.
Now that the need and reason for celebrating Mental Health Day have been well established, one is left with the question of how. As already mentioned, simply liking a post and sharing a story on social media would not suffice. Initiating, endorsing, and advancing all issues relating to mental health, and actively participating in helping and seeking help could make all the difference in the world. Sharing our struggles, going on marches, and participating in events that let people know they are not alone and that they have people who care about them can be other ways to actively participate and take part in mental health day. By doing this, we are not only providing a safe space for people to come out and share their mental concerns but also working towards having a better, mentally healthy society that will function to its fullest.
Since 1994, Mental Health Day has been celebrated with a theme, and this year’s theme for the same was- “Making Mental Health and Well-Being a Global Priority”. The theme was chosen with a vote open to the public. As we all recover from the pandemic, it is abundantly obvious that no country was prepared for the ensuing mental health catastrophe and its long-COVID effect. Many health systems are also ill-equipped to address the issues with physical and mental health that their communities are facing. Along with the epidemic, the effects of the war in Ukraine, the resulting displacement, the climate emergency, and a cost-of-living crisis are all causing problems for the well-being of global residents. People with lived experiences of mental health, their families, and other populations continue to tell us that governments, those who pay for services, or society at large are not always prioritizing their mental health well-being. Suicidal ideation rates are rising across the globe. To raise awareness regarding the efficacy of preventative mental health therapies, however, we can all do our part.
The theme of this year’s Mental Health Day perfectly aligns with the interests of the population by recognizing the needs and wants of the world in the present time. The world as a whole has been affected by problems such as the COVID pandemic and the Ukraine war and the world together needs to get together to address these concerns. In this time of uncertainty and confusion, this day became exponentially more important than ever before and served as a reminder and a beacon of hope for everyone undergoing difficult times.
Mental Health is something everyone needs to recognize with just as much importance and reverence as physical health and Mental Health Day helps advocates of the same do exactly that. This sentiment will do wonders for the productivity and development of society at a large. And in this spirit, I implore you to take a step in recognizing the significance of Mental Health Day and make every day, mental health day.
References:
1. Dattani Saloni, Ritchie Hannah and Roser Max (2021) "Mental Health”. Our World In Data. 'https://ourworldindata.org/mental-health'
2. © Mind. This information is published in full at mind.org.uk https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/statistics-and-facts-about-mental-health/how-common-are-mental-health-problems/
3. Wikipedia contributors. (2022, October 13). World Mental Health Day. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 06:01, October 31, 2022, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=World_Mental_Health_Day&oldid=1115770697
4. WPA (2022, May 3rd). World Mental Health Day – 10th October 2022. News Stories. https://www.wpanet.org/post/world-mental-health-day-10th-october-2022
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