New Delhi: World Mental Health Day is observed every year on 10 October. The theme of World Mental Health Day 2021 is “Mental Health in an Unequal World”, announced by Dr Ingrid Daniels, President of the World Federation for Mental Health.
The theme aims to shed light on how inequality affects people’s mental health because of their lack of respect for race and ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity and human rights. Also, people suffering from mental health disorders are looked down upon by many, which makes their condition worse.
The theme of the World Health Organization (WHO) for World Mental Health Day 2021 is “Mental health care for all: Make it a reality”. This topic primarily focuses on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of people around the world.
Around 1 billion people worldwide suffer from mental disorders.
According to the WHO, around 280 million people suffer from depression globally. It is estimated that five percent of adults suffer from depression.
One in seven people between the ages of 10 and 19 experience a mental disorder.
Severe mental disorders such as schizophrenia increase the likelihood of death in individuals diagnosed with those illnesses 10–20 years earlier than in the general population.
Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death for youth aged 15-29, and one in every 100 deaths is suicide.
History of World Mental Health Day
Richard Hunter, deputy secretary general of the World Federation for Mental Health, introduced World Mental Health Day as an activity on 10 October every year in 1992. World Mental Health Day was first observed on 10 October 1992.
Initially there were no specific topics, but the general objective was to promote mental health advocacy and to educate the public on relevant issues. For the first three years, a US Information Agency satellite system from studios in Tallahassee, Florida, broadcast two hours globally to mark World Mental Health Day.
The theme of World Mental Health Day 1994 was “Improving the quality of mental health services around the world”. Board members of the World Federation of Mental Health arranged events in several countries, including notable campaigns in Australia and England.
Soon after the campaign, 27 countries sent their response reports. By 1995, World Mental Health Day had become an important occasion for the participation of various government departments, organizations and stakeholders around the world.
Importance of World Mental Health Day
The purpose of World Mental Health Day is to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and to make efforts in support of mental health according to WHO.
On this day people working on mental health issues can discuss their work, and can advise the world on what steps should be taken to ensure good mental health. It aims to dispel taboos and myths related to mental health issues, encourage the world to share their distress without feeling ashamed, and educate people to value mental health as much as physical health. is given to.
inequality and mental health
The theme of “Mental Health in an Unequal World” was chosen by the World Mental Health Association because of the increasing polarity in the world becoming much richer and wealthier, while the majority of people still live in poverty. Also, there is unequal access to mental health. In low- and middle-income countries, 75 to 95 percent of people with mental health disorders are unable to access mental health services.
Many people living in high-income countries do not seek medical help, even if they have access. The mental health treatment gap arises due to the fact that there is a lack of investment in this area, states the World Federation for Mental Health.
The social stigma and discrimination experienced by people with mental illness often make them reluctant to seek professional help. The persistent idea behind each year’s theme is to dispel misconceptions about mental health.
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