World Mental Health Day: Covid is Also a Mental Health Pandemic.
Promoting awareness on mental health issues that affect people living across the globe.
There is no health without mental health
This year’s World Mental Health Day, on 10 October, comes at a time when our daily lives have changed considerably as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year, the World Health Organization will, for the first time ever, host a global online advocacy event on mental health, launching a global social media challenge to get the world moving on mental health, with a call for a massive scale-up in investment in mental health. Every year on October 10th the World Federation of Mental Health celebrates this international day for global mental health education, awareness and advocacy against social stigma.
The main objective of this day is to promote awareness on mental health issues that affect people living across the globe and to find ways to improve mental health.
Covid is Also a Mental Health Pandemic.
According to the recent World Health Organization (WHO) survey, “The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted or halted critical mental health services in 93% of countries worldwide while the demand for mental health is increasing”. The COVID-19 pandemic is negatively impacting the mental health of one out of two people globally.
The main focus the World Mental Health Day should be in promoting equity and reducing mental health disparities.
On a global scale we are experiencing the unprecedented impact of the current global health emergency due to COVID-19. The mental health of millions of people are impacted, with increased levels of depression and isolation. In addition, increased disruptions with climate change, politics, economic challenges, all contributing to the experience of emotional distress. In this very moment, families are struggling, parents are currently facing an unprecedented set of challenges, people lacking a support system are now facing increased anxiety and fear amidst uncertainty.
How could we gain the necessary inner strength to cope with stress on a global scale?
What needs to be addressed?
By Dr. Nadia Thalji
The myriad of barriers that stand in the way of mobilizing efforts in support of mental health;
The importance of scholarship and expertise in addressing the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse peoples;
The need to invest in research focused on culturally-responsive practices; promoting equity and reducing mental health disparities;
The investment in developing system-wide prevention and intervention models;
The inclusion of psychodynamic interventions.
