World Mental Health Day (WMHD) – The origin
World Mental Health Day was first observed in 1992 by the World Federation of Mental Health (WFMH) under the direction of Richard Hunter, deputy secretary-general WFMH, to raise awareness of mental health problems and educate the public about preventative treatment options. When it started, advocating for overall mental health was the only goal.
As times changed, so did the World Mental Health Day themes. The conversation expanded to include topics like women, children, health, work, trauma, suicide, and much more.
Every year on October 10, the world celebrates WMHD to increase awareness of mental health concerns and to gather support for individuals dealing with them. This day aims to create good change for mental health advocacy and increase awareness of mental health concerns across the globe.
Key facts for World Mental Health Day
- There are around one billion individuals who have mental illnesses.
- Depression is a primary cause of disability and a significant contributor to the worldwide illness burden. Around the world, an estimated 5% of adults experience depression.
- From the ages of 10 to 19, one in seven people globally suffers from mental problems. According to the WHO, half of these diseases begin before the age of 14, but the majority go undiagnosed and untreated.
How (over time) mental health has become such an integral part of our lives
Over the past 70 years, mental health has undergone significant change. Numerous other changes have been made, including a rise in the use of talking therapies and the closure of ancient asylums. Both the patients and the mental health services have benefited greatly from each of them.
One important development has been the shift in society's mentality. People are growing more sympathetic toward folks who are experiencing challenges with their mental health. They are more likely to talk to medical professionals about common mental diseases like melancholy and anxiety and to seek therapy from them.
On the other hand, those who have suffered from childhood trauma are more at ease discussing it, and society as a whole is more aware of its potential causes, with parents, teachers, and safeguarding leads on the lookout for abuse signals. We can only hope that this will lead to fewer cases in the future.
WMHD 2022 theme - "Make mental health for all a global priority"
People from all over the world come together to observe World Mental Health Day in order to increase public awareness of mental health concerns and to unite people and authorities behind the cause.Additionally, it strives to assist those suffering from mental illness and remove the social stigma associated with the problem.
Every year, themes for World Mental Health Day are revealed. The Mental Health Strategy Team and system-wide partners conduct a number of events and activities centred on each year's theme on the 10th of October and during the whole month of October.
“Make mental health for all a global priority” is the theme for WMHD 2022 this year. The campaign for 2022 will be run to raise awareness of how crucial it is to give those with mental illnesses and their families the best help possible and to create awareness about Mental Health.
