Some people are seen to have been really tried, irritated, frustrated and often anger issues. They show anger and respond aggressively instead of a simple reply. They may easily change mood, have difficulty in concentration, restlessness, confused or obsessive thinking and withdrawl from the group. People think these all stupid or idiotic behaviour. But this is not something that remains unspoken. It is mental health.
A glance on mental health statistics
Around 970 million people in the world suffer from any type of mental illness or problems. One in four people have been victimized by mental illness in some stage of life. About 8 million deaths, which accounts for 14.3% of the death worldwide are due to mental disorders. The global mental health disorders has risen by more than 50% during the last three decades.
Depression affects more than 300 million people worldwide regardless of the region, income level, race, religion, gender, age, culture, or sex. Over 75 million individuals in middle and low-income countries cannot receive mental health care. The global anxiety level skyrocketed to 25% during the COVID-19 pandemic. 284 million suffer from a disorder of anxiety globally.
The Importance of World Mental Health Day
The numerous aspects involved in the form of psychological, emotional as well as social issues of an individual entail mental health problems. Mental health is a state showing how a person may be thinking and feeling, and the way they actually behave so as to discern whether they have the ability to handle and manage stress, convey and connect appropriately with other people and make the right decision. It must be adhered to in all stages of life, starting from childhood, adolescence, to adulthood.
The mental health disorders have been categorized by the experts into four categories. These are schizophrenia personality disorders, anxiety disorders, and mood disorders that include bipolar or depression.
The WFMH celebrates every year, on 10th October, World Mental Health Day as an awareness day. This activity of WFMH is to bring the spotlight on mental health problems across the world, to mobilize efforts for mental health, and to reduce stigma.
A mental health day is thereby provided for just the occasion to get you enough time to back off and, therefore, give priority to your well-being, especially in times of high stress and anxiety.
This day, which annually is commemorated on October 10th, is aimed at alerting public awareness in the global community to some of the critical mental health agendas- with a unifying voice through collaboration with various partners-to take action and create a lasting change.
The motto of mental health day is Embrace Your Mind, Be Kind. Mental Health Matters, Let’s Shatter the Silence. Strong Mind, Strong World. Heal Your Mind, Shine Your Light. Green ribbon is chosen as a symbol of identification for the mental health awareness.
Philippe Pinel has been called the “father of modern psychiatry”. He is given recognition for his humane approach towards treating patients with mental illness, work he made in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders, as well as his contribution in laying foundational steps toward what developed into modern psychotherapy.
WHO supports World Mental Health Day by spreading information on the issues dealing with mental health through its strong networks of relations with the Ministries of health and civil society organizations worldwide. It also assists in technical and communicative material development.
5 ways of enhancing mental health well-being
- Connect with other people.
- Be active. Being active is not just good for your body and its fitness level.
- Learn something new.
- Practice giving to nature and people.
- Focus on the present moment (mindfulness)
The famous quote about mental health day is “Your struggles do not define you.” “Taking care of your mental health is an act of self-love.” “You are worthy of happiness and peace of mind.”
Selfcare tips:
- Be physically active. Just 30 minutes of daily walking can be beneficial to uplift the mood and wellness.
- Drink plenty of water. Stay hydrated properly.
- Take healthy and timely diet.
- Sleep properly. Always make it a priority
- Engage in a relaxing activity. It could be anything you want, like drawing, painting, or even knitting.
- Practice goal-setting. Prepare checklists for task management.
- Say thank you.
- Focus on the positive.
- Stay in touch.
World Mental Health Day helps to raise awareness of mental health and promotes action to address those issues. It also helps to:
- Reduce stigma
It is necessary to understand that mental health is very important as the physical health and affects everyone. Through awareness and empathy, the World Mental Health Day focuses to remove any stigma related to mental health.
- Speaks to the perspective of generalized access to mental health services
It brings into light the importance of good mental health and its care as a necessity that is common to all.
- Open healthy conversation
The day of World Mental Health Day provides people with an opportunity to share thoughts regarding work done on mental health issues as well as what more is needed.
Some ways you can make a difference in enhancing mental wellness are:
Start a conversation: Ask how someone is doing, be a good listener, and share your support online.
Volunteer: Volunteer at a local organization or join a group that focuses on a hobby you enjoy.
Repost educational articles: Repost educational articles or blogs on mental well-being.
Take a mental health day: There are times when you need to disengage, take a little time to recharge your batteries, and refocus.
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