World Mental Health Day

World Mental Health Day

October 10 is World Mental Health Day. The overall objective of World Mental Health Day is to raise awareness of mental health issues. The focus of this campaign is mental health around the world. In short, the campaign is an incentive to mobilize efforts in support of mental health. In addition, the day provides an opportunity for all stakeholders working on mental health issues to talk about their work. Further, they have the opportunity to discuss what more needs to be done to make mental health care a reality for people worldwide. Wear a green ribbon, enamel awareness pin or green silicone wristband for World Mental Health Day.

A Human Right – Wear a Green Ribbon

World Mental Health Day is an opportunity for people and communities to unite for mental health. For this reason, the mental health campaigns are designed to improve mental health knowledge. This increased knowledge means raising awareness. And, of course, driving actions that promote and protect everyone’s mental health as a universal human right.

Mental health is a basic human right for all people. Everyone, whoever and wherever they are, has a right to the highest attainable standard of mental health. This includes, for example, the right to be protected from mental health risks. And, the right to available, accessible, acceptable, and good quality care. And, in addition, the right to liberty, independence and inclusion in the community.

Good mental health is vital to our overall health and well-being. Yet one in eight people globally is living with mental health conditions. These can impact their physical health. It can also impact their well-being, how they connect with others, and their livelihoods. Mental health conditions also affect an increasing number of adolescents and young people.

Living with a Mental Health Condition

Having a mental health condition should never be a reason to deprive a person of their human rights. And, it should never be a reason to exclude them from decisions about their own health. Yet all over the world, people with mental health conditions continue to experience a wide range of human rights violations. Many are excluded from community life. Others are discriminated against. Still, many more cannot access the mental health care they need or can only access care that violates their human rights.

WHO continues to work with its partners to ensure mental health is valued, promoted, and protected. And, further, that urgent action is taken so that everyone can exercise their human rights. People need access to the quality mental health care they need. Join the World Mental Health Day campaign to learn more about basic rights to mental health. And, as how to protect the rights of others.

Inequalities in Mental Health

Inequalities in mental health lead to certain groups facing disproportionately higher rates of mental health issues. This needs to be urgently addressed. And that’s why we focus our research, policy and advocacy work, and programs on the groups most affected. This includes families, young people, people with long-term health conditions, and refugees and asylum seekers.

Help drive change toward a mentally healthy society for all, and support communities, families and individuals to live mentally healthier lives. With prevention at the heart of what we do, we aim to find and address the sources of mental health problems so that people and communities can thrive.