In Focus

Today is World Mental Health Day

Most of you may think mental illnesses do not concern you as you are not affected by it, but there are many children around the world including our country who suffer as a result of mental disorders.

It is therefore important to focus attention on the mental state of all people because when people are subjected to such mental disorders it affects the entire society, eventually. It is because of this, that a special day has been designated by the UN to deal with this problem. Mental health is increasingly endorsed as a significant aspect in terms of the overall well-being of the individual.

World Mental Health Day, which is supported by the United Nations (UN), is annually held on October 10 to raise public awareness about mental health issues worldwide. This event promotes open discussions on illnesses, as well as investments in prevention and treatment services.

Depression is a major mental health problem and World Mental Health Day promotes the awareness of such issues.

World Mental Health Day is an initiative of the World Federation for Mental, Health (WFMH). The World Health Organisation (WHO), which is the UN's directing and coordinating authority for health, supports this event. The Mental Health Foundation is another organisation that is proactive in promoting World Mental Health Day.

Mental disorders affect nearly 12 per cent of the world's population - about 450 million or one out of every four people around the world will experience a mental illness that would benefit from diagnosis and treatment.

According to WHO, mental health is defined as a state of well-being in which people realise their own potential, can cope with normal life stresses, can work productively, and can contribute to their community.

Mental health services lack human and financial resources in many countries, particularly low and middle income countries. More funding is needed to promote mental health to increase people's awareness of the issue. In response to making mental health a global priority, World Health Day was first celebrated in 1992 as an initiative of the WFMH, which has members and contacts in more than 150 countries. Each year the UN, through WHO, actively participates in promoting this event.