10 October : World Mental Health Day, know why it is celebrated today

Pune: The body is healthy when it is mentally and physically healthy. Most of the time people complain of fatigue despite not being working physically. The fatigue led physical illness can be cured through medicines or other remedies but mental fatigue can make us mentally ill and cure is oneself.  When you are mentally fatigued, your body is left with no energy to work. You feel dizzy and sleepy all the time. Many times our anxiety about studies, work load, relationship or career stresses us and if it lasts for a long time, it can turn into depression. Depression is that state of mind that makes even good things bad.  The awareness of mental health is very important especially in changing lifestyle World Mental Health Day is celebrated every year on 10 October with the aim of making people aware and sensitive to mental health.

World Mental Health Day

World Mental Health Day was first started in the year 1992. The day was celebrated at the initiative of Richard Hunter, the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations and the World Federation for Mental Health. The World Federation for Mental Health is a global mental health organization with more than 150 member countries.

In 1994, the then Secretary General of the United Nations, Eugene Brody, suggested to celebrate the day by setting a theme. World Mental Health Day was celebrated in 1994 for the first time with the theme “Improving the quality of mental health services across the world”. Since then, every year on October 10, programs are organized globally to raise mental health awareness.

What is the theme for 2020?

Every year a theme is set for World Mental Health Day. There are programs, seminars and other events based on this theme. It is led by the World Federation for Mental Health; it works with the same purpose throughout the years. This time the theme is “Mental Health for All: Greater Investment, Greater Access”.

Why is this day celebrated

Most people around the world do not pay attention to mental health. Currently, people are suffering from depression and other mental illnesses due to many pressures, anxiety, and stress. If there is too much depression, then even the person starts thinking of suicide. World Mental Health Day is celebrated with the aim of spreading awareness among people towards these mental disorders. Mental health week is also celebrated in some countries including Australia to avoid mental illnesses and to become aware of their harm.