October 10 is World Mental Health Day. This date has existed since 1992 and was established at the initiative of the World Federation for Mental Health. The purpose of the holiday is to increase public awareness of mental health problems, ways to strengthen it, as well as the prevention and treatment of mental disorders, the correspondent of MK in Pskov said.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mental health is a state of well-being in which a person is able to realize their potential, cope with stress, work productively and contribute to the life of the community. It is an important component of overall human health.
WHO statistics are a serious concern: almost 1 billion people in the world suffer from mental disorders. Every year, 3 million people die from alcohol abuse, and one suicide occurs every 40 seconds in the world. Depression is recognized as the most common mental illness - it leads in the duration of disability during the year. An additional risk factor was the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted the lives of billions of people.
Among the key goals of World Mental Health Day is to reduce the prevalence of depression, schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease, drug addiction, epilepsy and mental retardation. Information overload, political and economic crises lead to an increase in morbidity, and chronic stress is often a harbinger of many disorders.
Modern life is replete with stressful factors, from a tense work environment and social stigma to everyday difficulties such as traveling on public transport. At the same time, a significant proportion of people facing mental disorders do not have access to the necessary assistance. In addition, mental disorders increase the risk of developing other diseases, from HIV and diabetes to cardiovascular pathologies, and can also lead to unintentional and intentional injuries.
Every year, mental health events focus on a specific topic. In past years, emphasis has been placed on the mental health of children and the elderly, the relationship between physical and mental health, suicide prevention, human rights, psychological first aid, and mental health in the workplace.
In Russia, World Mental Health Day has been celebrated since 2002 on the initiative of Academician T. B. Dmitrieva. On this day, educational events are held in the regions of the country: conferences, thematic seminars, open days in psychiatric institutions and other events designed to reduce stigma and increase public awareness.
