The World Mental Health Day is observed on October 10. Under the initiative of the World Federation for Mental Health and the Deputy Secretary General Richard Hunter, the first ever World Mental Health Day was celebrated on October 10, 1992.
This year, to shed light on the alarming rise in mental disorders, the international awareness day will be focusing on “Mental Health for All” and an increased investment in mental health.
We are beginning to understand the importance of mental health more so than any other time in the history due to Covid-19 pandemic. It is now necessary to ensure wellbeing. To a great extent, the entire world has experienced transformation in their day to day lives for the past 9 months the entire world has come to a stand-still. This pandemic has created a global state of emergency for over 9 months and there is absolutely no signs of ending to it.
Holding the reigns of one’s sanity and ensuring mental and emotional wellbeing is difficult on any given day. The day-to-day stress about life that we carry around with us is hard in its own regard but when a global pandemic is thrown into the mix, ignoring mental health has become increasingly dangerous.
The stress and anxiety caused by the constant threat to personal physical wellbeing and to that of loved ones alone is enough to wreak havoc. Adding to that the isolation and quarantine along with the deadly mixture of downfall of the economy, loss of jobs and job uncertainty, uncertainty for future, etc are causing and emotional distress to almost the entire global population that has led many people to become depressed. Throughout this pandemic, statistics show an alarming increase in the number of people being affected by mental health issues.
Frustration, hostility and feelings of helplessness are increasing in recent years among the children and leading to suicide. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among 15 to 29-year-olds.
This bleak picture demands, we ensure that mental health is prioritised now more than ever before.
Importance of mental health has been recognised in Indian ancient culture but unfortunately, not practiced now. Therefore, it is the time for now seriously to revive yoga and meditation that was a part of our education curriculum for training the mind to be strong enough for overcoming those negative feelings. It is never too late to do something.
I invite you to join to action in highlighting the need for making mental health a reality for all – for everyone, everywhere.
Jai Hind
Satyabrata Maiti
Additional information
Situation is often complicated by some of the most common myths related to mental health.
Myth 1: Mental illnesses are rare. This is not true. As per the World Health Organization, “close to one billion people globally have a mental disorder”
Myth 2: If you try harder, you can make your symptoms go away
Myth 3: Everyone who has a mental illness needs medication to manage symptoms
Myth 4: Keeping a job is too stressful for individuals with mental illnesses
Myth 5: Someone living with a mental illness is more likely to commit a crime or be violent
Myth 6: Individuals who experience mental health symptoms will n
54900cookie-checkMental health a reality for all – for everyone, everywhere
