World Mental Health Day 2021: Know The Main Cause & Remedy For Mental Health Problems

An Opportunity to Turn to Scale-up Mental Health

World Mental Health Day is celebrated on October 10 every year. Mental health is the most neglected area of public health—the world population’s significant portion, close to 1 billion lives with a mental disorder. Harmful alcohol use kills about 3 million people every year, and suicide kills one person every 40 seconds.

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected billions of people worldwide, having a further impact on people’s mental health. Very few people do have access to quality mental health services. In middle and low-income countries, three-fourths of people with mental, neurological, and substance use disorders receive no treatment for their condition. Moreover, humiliation, bias, punishing legislation, and human rights exploits are even widespread.

World Mental Health Day 2021 Theme

Founded in 1992, World Mental Health Day 2021 will be observed on 10 October with the theme ‘Mental Health In An Unequal World’.

Who Organizes World Mental Health Day?

The event is organized jointly by the World Health Organization, United for Global Mental Health, and the World Federation for Mental Health. The World Health Organization offers global leadership in public health within the United Nations framework in 194 Member States. It promotes health, keeps the world safe, and serves the billion people for universal health coverage, to protect from health emergencies, and to provide with better health and well-being Commenced at the UN in September 2018, a not-for-profit organization, United for Global Mental Health, brings the global mental health community together with governments, donors, and crusaders to support mental health.

Who Organizes World Mental Health Day

Established in 1948, The World Federation for Mental Health works amongst the nations and the public to improve the prevention of mental and emotional illnesses, the proper treatment and care of those with such diseases, and mental health promotion. The Federation is the originator of World Mental Health Day.

World Mental Health Day 2021: An Occasion to Decide Upon Concrete Actions

The World Mental Health Day campaign consists of concrete actions supporting mental health, supporting the struggling people, employee wellness programs by employers, scaling-up mental health services by the governments, and propagating mental health care by journalists.

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization:

“World Mental Health Day is an opportunity for the world to come together and begin redressing the historical neglect of mental health.”

“We are already seeing the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on people’s mental well-being, and this is just the beginning. Unless we make serious commitments to scale up investment in mental health right now, the health, social, and economic consequences will be far-reaching.”

Dr. Ingrid Daniels, President of the World Federation for Mental Health: “It is nearly 30 years since the World Federation launched the first World Mental Health Day for Mental Health.” “During that time, we have seen an increasing openness to talk about mental health in many countries of the world. But now we must turn words into actions. We need to see concerted efforts being made to build mental health systems that are appropriate and relevant for today’s – and tomorrow’s – world.”

Elisha London, Founder and CEO of United for Global Mental Health: “With so many people lacking access to good quality, appropriate mental health services, investment is needed now more than ever.” “Everyone everywhere can participate in this year’s campaign. Whether you have struggled with your mental health, know someone who has been affected, are a mental health expert, or if you believe that investing in mental health is the right thing to do, move for mental health, and help make mental health care and support accessible for everyone.”

World Mental Health Day 2021: Events & Our Role

As we all know, most of the renowned countries have faced a lot of adverse circumstances because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This in turn has increased the mental pressure on the ones whose growth has been disturbed. And because of getting quarantined for quite a long period without any sort of work, prone people have developed some mental disorders. Hence pandemic has affected mankind in context to mental health problems.

And in the course of the pandemic the difference between the rich and the poor was highlighted to a greater extent because of the available facilities which in turn adversely affected the mental state of the ones whose near ones lost their lives. Hence the theme for highlighting the inequality in the society as far as mental health is concerned is appropriate and performed by all their campaigns.

In regard to this, during the World Health Assembly in May 2021, governments from different nations recognised the need to boost up health services with increasing mental health problems. WHO’s Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan 2013-2030 was presented and all the implementation options and indicators for listing progress were mentioned. People are urged at their local levels to generate awareness, carry out campaigning programmes. This is one of those disorders whose impact is very severe and can cause suicides and deaths. Hence awareness about this is vital.

WHO Released New Edition of WHO Mental Health Atlas

In late September WHO released a new edition of the WHO Mental Health Atlas which will give available resources to individual countries and globally to fight against mental illness. The Atlas also includes progress covered till date and the gaps which need to be covered. Along with that, testimonies will be uploaded on the website addressing the problems faced by the people and how they coped up with it.

And in addition to this there will be a session of live conversation with the experts to let us know about how we can increase awareness about good mental health to a wide range of people. As these kinds of conversations with the experts clear most of the doubts about how to approach the solution of the problem. However, more details will be available on the official website. Campaign material is uploaded under the slogan Mental health care for all: let’s make it a reality and hashtag #WorldMentalHealthDay.

What Are the Symptoms of Mental Health Problems?

Mental health symptoms may be mostly divided into two groups: ‘neurotic’ and ‘psychotic.’ Neurotic symptoms include common mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, or panic.

‘Psychotic’ symptoms are not common, not personal weaknesses, and can be diagnosed by a doctor. Mental health problems depend upon the way one imagines, feels, and behaves. These are related to the perception of reality and may include hallucinations such as hearing, seeing, smelling, or feeling things that no one else can. These may vary from person to person.

How Are Mental Health Problems Significant to People?

One in every six people faces a common mental health problem.

1 in 10 people is affected by anxiety and depression that can be severe and long-lasting. It makes a significant impact on people’s ability to get on with life.

One or two in every 100 people experience severe mental illness. These may be bipolar disorders or schizophrenia that happen when a person loses touch with reality. Such people may hear voices and see things that no one else can. They feel irrational beliefs, unrealistically powerful.

Such people hide their feelings with others due to fear of other people’s reactions. Many people do have diagnosable mental health problems that can be diagnosed with early treatment.

What Is the Impact of the Coronavirus Pandemic on Mental Health?

The COVID-19 has impacted society beyond regular mental health in terms of elevated rates of stress or anxiety. The new scenario has changed the routines, livelihoods, increased loneliness, increased harmful alcohol and drug use, and more dangerously ignited suicidal behavior. Many humans have already heavily affected the mental health conditions due to a lack of service access and distortion in growth prospects and growing rates of unemployment.

The pandemic has restricted people in various fields in terms of growth because of the increased unemployment and thus increasing the stress levels of the unemployed youth. After spending lakhs of money on education it becomes very difficult for the youth to handle the problem of unemployment especially for the financially weaker families. Hence it increases the mental stress created due to lack of a job.

World Mental Health Day 2021 Quotes

• “Make healthy choices for your body and mind”
• “Nothing can torment you as much as your thoughts”
• “One may have to fight a battle more than once”
• “Own mind becomes the enemy if not adequately controlled”
• “One can control everything provided one remains relaxed and has faith in God”
• “Mental health is a priority; take self-care as if it is a necessity”
• “Progress is a lifelong journey that takes place one step at a time”
• “Keep calm and have a controlled mind always to achieve goals”

News Sourec: SA News Channel