World Mental Health Day is an international event, celebrated on October 10 each year, with the aim of promoting awareness and understanding of mental health issues around the world. This day is crucial in promoting awareness of mental disorders, counteracting the persistent social stigma associated with such conditions, and encouraging open dialogue about mental health.

Its primary aim is to highlight the importance of mental health, encouraging people to look after their psychological well-being and seek help if they need it. Furthermore, it aims to provide resources and information that can contribute to a better understanding of mental disorders and promote a more inclusive and welcoming environment for those affected.

What is meant by Mental Health?

According to the definition of the World Health Organization, mental health is “a state of well-being” in which an individual “is able to exploit his abilities; he is able to cope with normal daily stress; he is able to carry out his or her work in a productive manner; and he or she is able to provide a contribution to their community.” Again, according to the WHO, the workplace directly influences the physical, mental, economic, and social well-being of workers and, in turn, the health of their families and communities.  

What is the Wellbeing Challenge?

The Jointly Wellbeing Challenge is a set of initiatives aimed at teaching people who work in the company how to adopt a healthier lifestyle and thus promote organizational well-being through courses guided by psychologists, nutritionists, and physical well-being specialists to learn how to manage small and major stresses in our daily lives.

What are the disorders directly related to mental health

Mental health represents a fundamental pillar of individual well-being and of society as a whole. Disorders such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and many others can have a profound impact on your quality of life if they are not treated properly. World Mental Health Day provides a unique platform to raise awareness that such problems are widespread and that there is no reason to be ashamed of seeking help from qualified professionals.

Numerous organizations, mental health institutions, educational institutions, and communities around the world actively join this initiative through events, seminars, conferences, awareness campaigns, and mental health promotion actions. 

These initiatives mainly focus on four main objectives:

• Raising awareness: World Mental Health Day aims to inform the public about the signs and symptoms of mental disorders, thus contributing to a greater understanding of the problem.
• Reduce stigma: One of the main barriers to seeking help for mental health problems is social stigma. This day strives to combat such stigma, promoting a more empathetic and inclusive attitude towards those who face such challenges.
• Accessibility to services: Promoting access to high-quality mental health services is a key goal. World Mental Health Day seeks to raise awareness of the importance of making adequate services available to those in need.
• Promotion of mental health: the event also promotes the adoption of healthy lifestyles and practices that contribute to mental well-being, encouraging the prevention of mental disorders.

5 ways to improve Mental Health 

This day represents an important global initiative aimed at promoting mental health, eradicating the stigma associated with mental illnesses, and improving the quality of life of people and communities around the world. Its reach is as broad as its importance, helping to create a more understanding, informed, and supportive world for those facing mental health challenges.

Sleep well

The quality of sleep is essential for physical and mental well-being. It is important, as far as possible, to have regular hours and avoid using smartphones, PCs, and tablets immediately before going to bed. Furthermore, experts recommend going to bed only when you feel sleepy and not before carrying out other activities such as reading or watching a film.

Have moments for yourself and manage stress

Mental health also comes from moments dedicated to oneself outside of daily commitments and organization. We need both moments of rest, dedicated to activities we like or total relaxation, and windows of time in which to spend time with our own thoughts, thanks to actual meditation or even just a walk. It is also important to know how to recognize stress, especially if it lasts for long periods, and learn to carve out moments of recovery, even short but frequent ones.

Keep your mind trained

To function well, the mind must be exercised. It is useful to stimulate it with pastimes such as crosswords or other “challenges” that push the brain to think, but also by participating in activities that allow us to discover and learn new things, such as theater, language courses, or workshops on activities that interest us.

Regular physical activity

Good mental health also depends on physical activity to counteract sedentary habits, which are increasingly widespread due to the types of jobs that have emerged in recent years. To reduce anxiety and improve mood, a 20-30 minute walk at a brisk pace, 4 or 5 times a week, is enough.

Social ties

When it comes to the social aspect of life, quality matters more than quantity. Mental well-being is supported by deep social ties and people – even a few – who you can trust and who are a certainty in times of need. and with which you can always be yourself.

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Achieving a state of mental well-being in today’s society, where there is no longer a separation between body and mind, means arriving at a state of general well-being. 

The alarm bells that must warn us to understand if we are in psychological suffering are:

• altered physiological needs (hunger, sleep, etc.).
• apathy, isolation and decreased interest in the outside world
• concentration and memory problems 
• altered mood
• nervousness and accentuated suspiciousness towards others
• feeling of decontextualization from the environment in which one lives
• irritability and outbursts of anger
• poor self-care

If these symptoms occur simultaneously and with persistent intensity, the help of a specialist is strongly recommended.

Conclusion

World Mental Health Day is celebrated on October 10, with the overall aim of raising awareness of mental health issues around the world and mobilizing efforts to support mental health. Mental health is one of the most neglected areas of public health, despite some estimates stating that within ten years, mental illnesses will surpass cardiovascular diseases to become the most widespread in the world. Nearly a billion people live with a mental disorder; 3 million people die every year from excessive alcohol consumption; and every 40 seconds, a person dies by suicide. And now the pandemic is having a further, very heavy impact on people’s mental health.

If you look at the global situation, only a minority of human beings have access to quality mental health services. In low- and middle-income countries, more than 75% of people with mental, neurological, and substance use disorders receive no treatment for their condition. Furthermore, stigma, discrimination, punitive legislation, and human rights violations are unfortunately still widespread.

This is why the focus of this year’s World Mental Health Day Campaign, launched by the World Health Organization, is to increase investment in mental health.