Editorial
World Mental Health Day is an annual event that aims to raise awareness of mental health issues worldwide and mobilize efforts to support mental health. The theme for 2023, set by the World Federation of Mental Health, is ‘Mental health is a universal human right’. The editorial critically evaluates the significance of World Mental Health Day in terms of its objectives, achievements, challenges, and recommendations.
The main objective of World Mental Health Day is to improve knowledge, raise awareness and drive actions that promote and protect everyone’s mental health as a universal human right. Mental health is a fundamental human right for all people, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, religion, or socioeconomic status1. Everyone has the right to the highest attainable standard of mental health, which includes the right to be protected from mental health risks, the right to available, accessible, acceptable, and good quality care, and the right to liberty, independence and inclusion in the community1. Good mental health is vital to our overall health and well-being, affecting our physical health, well-being, connection with others, and livelihoods.
World Mental Health Day has significantly raised awareness and advocacy for mental health. For example, it has helped to break the stigma and discrimination faced by people with mental health conditions in many parts of the world. It has also encouraged people to seek help and support when they need it and to offer help and support to others who may be struggling. Moreover, it has highlighted the importance of investing in mental health services and policies at all local and global levels. World Mental Health Day has also allowed various stakeholders working on mental health issues to discuss their work, share best practices, and collaborate on solutions.
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However, World Mental Health Day also faces challenges and limitations in achieving its full potential. One of the main challenges is the lack of resources and funding for mental health care in many countries, deficient- and middle-income countries. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), only 2% of the global health budget is spent on mental health. This means that many people with mental health conditions do not have access to the care they need or can only access care that violates their human rights. Another challenge is the lack of data and evidence on mental health issues and interventions in different contexts and populations. This hampers developing and evaluating effective and culturally appropriate strategies to address mental health needs. A third challenge is the lack of political will and commitment to prioritize mental health as a global public health issue. Despite the adoption of several resolutions and declarations by the United Nations and other international bodies, mental health remains a neglected and marginalized area in many countries.
In line with the growing challenges, there is a dire need to take a few steps to address mental health challenges. First, there is a need to increase funding and resources for mental health care at all levels, from local to global. This can be done by mobilizing domestic resources, engaging donors and partners, and allocating a fair share of the health budget to mental health. Second, there is a need to improve data collection and research on mental health issues and interventions in different contexts and populations. This can be done by strengthening surveillance systems, conducting epidemiological studies, evaluating outcomes and impacts, and disseminating findings. Third, there is a need to strengthen political will and commitment to prioritize mental health as a global public health issue. This can be done by advocating for mental health at all levels of decision-making, implementing existing resolutions and declarations, and holding governments accountable for their actions.
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Lastly, World Mental Health Day is a significant event that aims to raise awareness of mental health issues worldwide and mobilise efforts to support mental health. The theme for 2023 is ‘Mental health is a universal human right’, which reflects the importance of respecting and protecting everyone’s right to mental health. World Mental Health Day has achieved some notable outcomes in raising awareness and advocacy for mental health. However, it also faces challenges and limitations regarding resources, data, and political will.
