Today, 10 October, is World mental Health day, an annual event to raise awareness of mental health issues around the globe. This year in particular, as we find ourselves in the middle of a world-wide pandemic, taking care of your own mental well-being, as well as checking in on the people around you, is more important than ever. 

At the initiative of the World Federation for Mental Health, a World Mental Health day programme was first observed in 1992, and today, the event is also supported by The World Health Organisation, along with most mental health charities and organisations around the world. Since the first big campaign in 1994, each year’s campaign has had its unique theme, and in 2020 the theme is ‘Move for mental health: increased investment in mental health’.

Mental Health for All

We all deal with mental health in one form or another. Classified as a mental health problem is anything from everyday stress and sadness, to more long term conditions such as depression, all things that decrease your overall quality of life. However, it is important to take care of your mental wellbeing whether you have a mental health problem or not. Just as you take care of your physical health by staying active and eating well, taking simple steps to look after your mental well-being should be a daily priority. Some simple ways to look after your mental health could be to keep in touch with friends and family, do something you are good at and enjoy, talk about your feelings, care for others and accept who you are. Mental health is personal to each individual, and it doesn’t always stay the same. 

Did you know that one in every four people is estimated to be affected by a mental health disorder at some point in their lives? Fortunately, most people are able to get over or learn to cope with their mental health problems, especially when getting the appropriate help early on, but it is important to be aware of some of the numbers associated with mental health. There are almost a billion people around the world currently diagnosed with some kind of mental disorder. The most commonly diagnosed mental health issues in the world is anxiety and depressive disorders, with about one in every ten people affected at all times, according to WHO. And, one person dies due to suidide every 40 seconds. 

Yet, on average, only 2% of a country's health budget is spent on mental health. 

With the current coronavirus crisis, though it is firstly a physical health crisis, “it has the seeds of a major mental health crisis as well, if action is not taken,” the United Nations stated in their COVID-19 Policy brief earlier this year. People around the world live in fear and uncertainty, many are facing increasing economic struggles and the lack of face to face human connections due to social distancing and isolation, is taking its toll on everyone’s mental well-being. It is therefore crucial that we openly address the issues and work towards decreasing the stigma around mental health struggles, so that we together can help make resources and quality mental health care accessible to everyone in need - and this is what the 2020 World Mental Health Day is about.

World Mental Health Day goes online

Due to the current situation we all find ourselves in, World Mental Health Day, like most other events, has had to go online this year, but that only means that you have the opportunity to participate wherever you are in the world.

‘Move for mental health: Let’s invest’ is a joint mental health campaign between the World Health Organisation, United for Global Mental Health and the World Federation for Mental Health, which has been running since September this year. The aim of the campaign is to encourage public action for mental health around the world. On 9 October they called on people around the world to actually #MoveForMentalHealth and participate in the world’s very first 24 hour virtual march. By using social media filters, which will be activated when you move, you can participate in the virtual march that is, when this article is being published, still going live. The livestream that will take you around the world while mental health professionals and people with first hand experience illustrate the reality of the world’s mental health issues to increase awareness, break down stigma and help create change, can be followed here.

Additionally, the World Health Organisation will, for the very first time, host a global online advocacy event on mental health for this year’s World Mental Health Day called 'The Big Event for Mental Health'. During the event, those who tune in will hear world leaders and celebrity guests, in addition to mental health experts and WHO’s own Director-General, tell their stories, and inform the audience as to why we should all make mental health a priority and how we can help make quality mental health care available to everyone who needs it. You can find a detailed list of speakers and other participants of the event, as well as a recording of the entire livestream if you missed it, here. 

Remember, you are not alone.