Importance
World Mental Health Day is celebrated on October 10 every year to spread awareness among masses for global mental health education, growing anxiety levels. This day has now become even more important in ongoing Covid-19 Pandemic. The past months have been very hard on everyone with health workers on toes to help the general public & everyone adopting this new online culture. Also, when we look into the number of suicide cases around the globe, it is increasing at an alarming rate. Many people suffer from various kinds of mental ailments, find it very difficult to discuss openly or seek timely help from friends or relatives.
History
World Mental health was first celebrated in 1992 at the initiative of the World Federation for Mental Health, a global mental health organization with members and contacts in more than 150 countries.
The World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) is an international, multi-professional non-governmental organization (NGO), including citizen volunteers and former patients. It was founded in 1948 in the same era as the United Nations (UN) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Theme
The theme of this year’s World Mental Health Day, on Oct 10, is increased investment in mental health. Why invest, and why now?
The answer is simple, 2020 has been a difficult year for mental health. The threat of infection, repeated lockdowns, social isolation, and economic uncertainty has increased widespread fear and anxiety.
Mental ailments usually do not get any support for positive healing and often are discriminated on the basis of their mental health. This makes the victim and his situation become even worse than before. Slowly, the victim slips into depression and embroils himself in a pool of self-pity and away from society. Most often, such people avoid speaking to their own families and well-wishers and shun social gatherings.
Conclusion
Identifying the core issue of any suffering person can help sort out his problems from possible solutions. Once the problem is recognized, the victim should be maintained and supported to share their deepest thoughts with persons they trust the most and Speaking out hidden thoughts helps solve half of the underlying problems. The right kind of treatment and therapies, under the proper medical guidance, goes a long way in treating mental illness patients find a cure.
The economic argument for investment in mental health services is clear and has been made many times and on a global scale, this strategy involves the empowerment of individuals and communities.
There are several things high-income countries have much to learn from the innovations of low-income and middle-income settings, and the recognition of the central role of mental health in global health security now and in the future.
Investment must be about more than just money if mental health services are to be made fit to address the challenges of the COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 era.
There must be an investment of thought, time, and a commitment to change.
