October 10th - World Mental Health Day
World Mental Health Day celebrates awareness for the global community in an empathetic way, with a unifying voice, helping people feel hopeful by empowering them to take action and create lasting change.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on people’s mental health. Some groups, including health and other frontline workers, students, people living alone, and those with pre-existing mental health conditions, have been particularly affected. And services for mental, neurological and substance use disorders have been significantly disrupted.
Yet there is cause for optimism. During the World Health Assembly in May 2021, governments from around the world recognized the need to scale up quality mental health services at all levels. And some countries have found new ways of providing mental health care to their populations.
Mental health care for all: let's make it a reality!
During this year’s World Mental Health Day campaign, we will showcase the efforts made in some of these countries and encourage you to highlight positive stories as part of your own activities, as an inspiration to others. WHO will also provide new materials, in easy-to-read formats, of how to take care of your own mental health and provide support to others too.
- More than 700 000 people die due to suicide every year.
- For every suicide there are many more people who attempt suicide. A prior suicide attempt is the single most important risk factor for suicide in the general population.
- Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death in 15-19-year-olds.
- 77% of global suicides occur in low- and middle-income countries.
- Ingestion of pesticide, hanging and firearms are among the most common methods of suicide globally.
("Preventing suicide at work: information for employers, managers and employees", WHO)
Interesting fact:
WHO and Angry Birds are teaming up to launch a new Self-Care Tournament on Angry Birds Friends to raise awareness on mental health and provide useful tips to players on how to stay mentally healthy during the pandemic and beyond.
The tournament features 24 brand-new video game levels related to relaxation and healthy living, as well as numerous WHO recommendations and tips. Throughout the week, the tournament will encourage players to take care of their mental health, with the aim of fostering lasting healthier lifestyles at home.
Vairāk informācijas:
World Federation for Mental Health
