World Mental Health Day
Today is World Mental Health Day.
This year is the 20th anniversary of World Mental Health Day, which was the idea of Richard Hunter from the World Federation for Mental Health.
In 1992, Richard decided that mental health deserved an annual 'day', like other national awareness days drawing attention to a variety of causes. He saw that an international World Mental Health Day could be, in his own words, “a focal point around which global mental health advocacy could gain maximum public attention”.
He selected October 10 as the annual observance day and developed the concept of an annual theme, with the Federation assembling a packet of information that could be sent to participating organisations to allow them to follow the theme in their own way, holding local events within their own budgets.
It was a practical way to spread mental health advocacy, drawing attention to the needs of people with mental illnesses and to the importance of mental health.
This year the theme for World Mental Health Day is ‘Depression: A Global Crisis’ and we want to hear what you are doing in your areas to celebrate World Mental Health Day.
Members of YoungMinds are attending a variety of different events in support of World Mental Health Day which we will be blogging about throughout the week.
Tell us how you are celebrating World Mental Health Day 2012 or email us a guest blog about what you are doing in your area to clare.jerrom@youngminds.org.uk
If you are a parents and would like more information about depression or other mental health problems visit our website here.
If you are a young person and would like more information about depression or other mental health problems, visit our website here.
