Every year, our communities recognize October 10th as #WorldMentalHealthDay. World Mental Health Day promotes the global awareness of mental health issues and the mobilization of efforts to support those who are affected.
WHO continues to work with its partners to ensure mental health is valued, promoted, and protected, and that urgent action is taken so that everyone can exercise their human rights and access the quality mental health care they need.
This year, the WMHD Campaign is titled “Mental Health is a Universal Human Right”. This initiative aims to unite the world behind the theme that Mental health is a fundamental right, while building upon current public knowledge and guiding action that promotes and protects every individual's mental health and wellbeing.
While the first World Mental Health Day was celebrated for the first time on October 10, 1992—the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) Global Campaign 2023 is recognizing their 75th Anniversary and World Mental Health Day in 2023.
August 19th, 2023 marked World Federation for Mental Health’s 75th anniversary. WFMH continues to promote the importance of mental health internationally, while remaining a devoted advocate for individuals who may be affected by mental health issues or disorders.
Surprising Mental Health Facts:
- 1 in 8 people globally are living with mental health conditions.
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- This can impact their livelihood, physical health, their well-being, and how they connect with others.
- Mental health conditions are also affecting an increasing number of adolescents and young people.
- Mental health and mental illness are often used interchangeably, but they are not the same thing.
How do I talk about Mental Health?
TALK TO SOMEONE YOU TRUST: This could be a friend, family member or a colleague. Maybe you are more comfortable maintaining anonymity and talking to someone you don’t know, for example, through a support helpline. It can help to make a list of pros and cons when talking to someone.
THINK ABOUT THE IDEAL PLACE TO TALK: It’s important to choose a physical place where you feel comfortable enough to open-up and be a bit more vulnerable. You might want to choose somewhere private where disturbances are less likely. You also might want to talk while you do an activity, like taking a walk or baking cookies.
PREPARE YOURSELF FOR ANY REACTION: Hopefully, you will have a positive experience when you open-up to someone. But of course, there’s a chance that they may not react in the way you hope. It could be unintentional because they are worried or they may not fully understand at first. If that’s the case, don’t jump to conclusions and try to give them time to process what you’ve told them. It might help to give them reading materials to help them understand and refer to. Don’t forget to be kind to yourself and practice self-care.
Would you like to check-in with someone you care about?
Find a good space to talk without distractions
If you’re worried about someone, try to find a place where you know you can have a conversation without being distracted and maybe put away your phone. It is important to make sure to give them your full attention.
Listen without interrupting, and ask questions
Listening is often one of the most valuable ways to be there for someone. Practice actively listening by facing them, making eye contact, and not interrupting. Questions can help you clarify what they mean and help avoid assumptions. But make sure the questions are relevant to what they’re saying, and not changing the subject.
Ask how you can help
Ask them how you can help or make suggestions, rather than telling them what to do next. They might want support and assistance with making an appointment with a specialist, or some help around the house, or just for you to keep things normal and chat about what’s going on in your life.
These things will also help end the stigma behind transparent conversations around mental health.
If you're in immediate danger or need urgent medical support, call 911.
If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, call Talk Suicide Canada at 1-833-456-4566. Support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
For residents of Quebec, call 1-866-277-3553 or visit suicide.ca.
Visit Talk Suicide Canada for the distress centres and crisis organizations nearest you. If you're experiencing gender-based violence, you can access a crisis line in your province or territory.
