What You Need to Know About World Mental Health Day
World Mental Health Day
Raising awareness of mental health issues around the world. Mental health has an impact on physical health and vice versa.
Make mental health care a reality for people worldwide
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10-5-2017
Raising awareness on mental health issues; World Mental Health Day is observed every year on October 10th.
Mental health problems are under-identified by health-care professionals and the stigma surrounding mental illness makes people reluctant to seek help. Some major objectives of World Mental Health Day, WHO's Mental health action plan 2013-2020 are to:
1. Strengthen effective leadership and governance for mental health.
2. Provide comprehensive, integrated and responsive mental health and social care services in community-based settings.
3. Implement strategies for promotion and prevention in mental health.
4. Strengthen information systems, evidence and research for mental health.
2. Provide comprehensive, integrated and responsive mental health and social care services in community-based settings.
3. Implement strategies for promotion and prevention in mental health.
4. Strengthen information systems, evidence and research for mental health.
Purpose of World Mental Health Day
World Mental Health Day is to raise public and professional awareness of the inadequacies of existing mental health resources and services and the large inequities in their distribution at national and global level, and to provide useful information in planning for enhancement of mental health resources.
Health systems have not yet adequately responded to the burden of mental disorders; as a consequence, the gap between the need for treatment and its provision is large allover the world. Between 76% and 85% of people with severe mental disorders receive no treatment for their disorder in low-income and middle-income countries; the corresponding range for high income countries is also high: between 35% and 50%. A further compounding problem is the poor quality of care for those receiving treatment.
Mental health is an integral part of health and well-being, as reflected in the definition of health in the Constitution of the World Health Organization: "Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." Mental health, like other aspects of health, can be affected by a range of factors such as health status, income, environment and education.
People with mental disorders experience disproportionately higher rates of disability and mortality. Mental disorders frequently lead individuals and families into poverty and persons with major depression and schizophrenia have a 40% to 60% greater chance of dying prematurely than the general population, owing to physical health problems that are often left unattended. Suicide is the second most common cause of death among young people worldwide.
Homelessness and inappropriate incarceration are far more common for people with mental disorders than for the general population, and increase their isolation and vulnerability. Because of stigmatization and discrimination, persons with mental disorders often have their human rights violated and many are denied economic, social and cultural rights and the right to the highest attainable standard of health.
Health systems have not yet adequately responded to the burden of mental disorders; as a consequence, the gap between the need for treatment and its provision is large allover the world. Between 76% and 85% of people with severe mental disorders receive no treatment for their disorder in low-income and middle-income countries; the corresponding range for high income countries is also high: between 35% and 50%. A further compounding problem is the poor quality of care for those receiving treatment.
Mental health is an integral part of health and well-being, as reflected in the definition of health in the Constitution of the World Health Organization: "Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." Mental health, like other aspects of health, can be affected by a range of factors such as health status, income, environment and education.
People with mental disorders experience disproportionately higher rates of disability and mortality. Mental disorders frequently lead individuals and families into poverty and persons with major depression and schizophrenia have a 40% to 60% greater chance of dying prematurely than the general population, owing to physical health problems that are often left unattended. Suicide is the second most common cause of death among young people worldwide.
Homelessness and inappropriate incarceration are far more common for people with mental disorders than for the general population, and increase their isolation and vulnerability. Because of stigmatization and discrimination, persons with mental disorders often have their human rights violated and many are denied economic, social and cultural rights and the right to the highest attainable standard of health.
