By Jackie Faiman

Mental health conditions are on the rise worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) has designated October 10 as World Mental Health Day, an annual reminder of the centrality of mental health to overall human wellbeing. This day is an opportunity to refocus our awareness of mental health crises in our own communities and throughout the world and of the need for greater systemic support for mental health.

It is sobering that roughly one in eight individuals globally is living with a mental health disorder. Among children and adolescents, this figure is even higher. Meanwhile, the global median government expenditure allocated to mental health is less than 2%, which barely meets the level of need.

Societal circumstances continue to impact mental health. Violence on a small and large scale, such as the war in Ukraine, is a huge factor. Growing social and economic inequalities leave large populations without health resources. Public health emergencies, particularly the Covid-19 pandemic, can exacerbate pre-existing conditions and human isolation, leaving many to suffer alone.

Though public understanding of mental health conditions continues to grow, stigma still exists in many cultures. Those with mental health struggles may hesitate to seek help if they believe they might be shamed.

As daunting as this scenario might be, we, as individuals, can commit to prioritizing our own mental health and to supporting those in our orbit struggling with mental health conditions. The WHO is an excellent resource–read personal stories and access advocacy materials at World Mental Health Day. A discussion of specific WHO mental health initiatives is also available here. 

On October 10, we can each take a moment to acknowledge how precious our mental health is. By advocating for increased mental health services in our own communities and by neutralizing the stigma associated with mental health disorders, we can make a difference.