Today we observe World Mental Health Day. It was observed for the first time on 10th October 1992, and started as an annual activity of the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) by the then Deputy Secretary General Richard Hunter.
The day is now officially commemorated every year on 10th October, and is supported by organisations such as the World Health Organisation (WHO), the International Association for Suicide Prevention and United for Global Mental Health.
This year’s theme is suicide prevention. According to WHO, a person loses their life to suicide every 40 seconds. So this year’s event will focus on raising awareness of the global scale of suicide, and the role that each of us can play to help prevent it.
MAKE A DIFFERENCE
According to the WFMH, we can all make a difference to others who may have reached the point of wanting to end their lives. World Mental Health Day provides the opportunity to understand the reality of suicide and learn how to offer hope to someone who may be in crisis.
Wearing a green ribbon – the international symbol for mental health awareness – is one way to raise awareness of suicide prevention today. The WFMH also recommends using its ‘WAIT’ advice to support someone who is feeling suicidal, as illustrated in the poster here below.
WHO is also offering online resources, such as videos and handouts, with useful advice to help emergency workers, health workers, teachers and employers on what they can do to help prevent suicide.
To access the video animations, click here. For the handouts, click here.
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