What is World Mental Health Day?
On 10 October every year, the World Health Organisation recognises World Mental Health Day. The theme this year is ‘Making mental health and wellbeing for all a global priority’.
Achieve Foundation is joining this year’s campaign and calling for mental illness and inequality to be a global priority.
As a society and individuals, we need to do as much as possible to prevent mental ill-health and support everyone to thrive. World Mental Health Day raises awareness of mental health issues around the world and seeks to highlight the resources available in support of mental health. It is an opportunity to talk about mental health in general, how we need to look after it, and how important it is to talk about things and get help if you are struggling. Rethink offers support for those struggling with mental health.
For those of us experiencing mental illness, we live in an unequal world. There’s no two ways about it. Stigma. Discrimination. Lack of support. Limited access to housing, employment, and welfare. It doesn’t make good reading.
Things are slowly starting to change. Stigma around some mental health issues such as anxiety and depression have improved, the NHS Long Term Plan has committed to creating a community model of mental health care and the government is in the process of reforming the Mental Health Act. But, put bluntly, this is nowhere near enough.
Black people are still four times more likely than their white counterparts to be sectioned. LGBT+ people are at more risk of suicidal behaviour and self-harm than non-LGBT+ people. People living with severe mental illness still have a shorter life expectancy than others. And the cost-of-living crisis is plunging thousands of people across the country into debt.
This is the reality of mental health in an unequal world. This is inequality. And it must change.
The World Health Organisation recognises World Mental Health Day on 10 October every year.
The theme of 2022’s World Mental Health Day, set by the World Federation for Mental Health, is ‘ Make mental health & well-being for all a global priority’.
Hashtag: #WorldMentalHealthDay
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