World Mental Health Day 2020

Every year the World Health Organisation recognises 10th October as World Mental Health Day, with the overall aim of raising awareness of mental health issues around the world –  This year’s theme is ‘mental health for all’

This year has seen many lives change considerably as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. The past few months have brought many challenges for many groups of people:

• Health-care workers – providing care in very difficult and challenging circumstances, and going to work fearful that they may bring Covid-19 home with them.
• Students- Adapting to taking classes at home, little contact with teachers and friends, and anxiety about their futures.
• Workers who are at risk of pay cuts, loss of hours, or full redundancy.
• Those who are caught in poverty or are in fragile settings at home, such as a domestic violence environment. 
• Those who have lost loved ones and are struggling to manage their grief – some people may also not have been able to say goodbye.
• Those with mental health conditions who may be experiencing even greater social isolation than before. 

In addition to this, the coronavirus pandemic has had a catastrophic effect on the economy, with many companies going bankrupt. 

In this period of uncertainty, it is expected that the need for mental health support will substantially increase in the coming months and years. 

There needs to be further investment in mental health programmes, now more than ever, which is why the goal of this year’s World Mental Health Day campaign is to increase investment in mental health, so that mental health support is available for all. 

You can find out more about World Mental Health Day here:

https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-mental-health-day/world-mental-health-day-2020

https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/campaigns/world-mental-health-day

If you or someone you know are struggling with mental health issues, you can visit https://www.mind.org.uk/ for further information and support.