World Mental Health Day is observed annually on October 10, to promote the mental health and well-being of humans across the world. The day is meant to make us more aware of our mental health challenges, often seen as a taboo topic. World Mental Health Day also seeks to mobilise more support for the advocacy and education on the subject and is also dedicated to enhance the facilities needed to support mental health.
The importance of celebrating World Mental Health Day in recent times is crucial as unprecedented global events like the COVID pandemic and multiple wars have wreaked havoc on mental health. It has affected millions of people worldwide, which brings to the fore the treatment gap.
It was first celebrated in 1992 at the initiative of the World Federation for Mental Health, a global mental health organization with members and contacts in more than 150 countries. This day, each October, thousands of supporters come to celebrate this annual awareness program to bring attention to mental illness and its major effects on people’s lives worldwide. In addition, this day provides an opportunity for mental health professionals to discuss and shed light on their work, making mental health a priority worldwide.