This year on October 10th, people across the globe will recognise World Mental Health Day. This year, the focus is on making mental health and wellbeing a global priority. It’s an important day when individuals, businesses, schools and communities acknowledge and consider the effects mental health can have on society, working to advocate for and raise awareness of mental health conditions.
Who recognises World Mental Health Day?
National charities such as Rethink Mental Illness UK and YoungMinds UK work alongside global organisations such as United Global Mental Health and World Federation for Mental Health to promote positive mental health and wellbeing across many countries across the world.
On this day, many people raise money and awareness for these local, national and global charities in order to tackle the stigmas and stereotypes of mental health and to support the funding of vital services which directly impact those struggling with mental health conditions.
What do people do on World Mental Health Day?
One way YoungMinds raises funds and awareness is by encouraging people to wear yellow on World Mental Health Day. This fun method of awareness has a big impact, whilst helping to show that a brighter future is possible for those struggling with their mental health. Wherever you are, whoever you are, grab an item of yellow clothing (yes, even those wacky yellow socks!) and wear it to show your support.
In some communities, a minute of silence may be observed and take place to remember those who have been affected by mental health.
Other ways World Mental Health Day is celebrated include hosting coffee mornings or putting posters and flyers around pinboards at places of work and study. Sometimes, news reports and television shows about mental health are broadcast.
Your workplace, school or college may have a mental health support group or hold events and host guest speakers who may give talks on their lived experience of mental health or deliver educational talks surrounding their mental health journeys.
But what about the other 364 days of the year?
It’s true that raising awareness about mental health shouldn’t only just be one day out of a whole year – mental health isn’t just a 24-hour event. Many individuals struggle with their emotional wellbeing. They either suffer in silence or don’t receive the support they need and deserve to recover and manage their conditions effectively.
This is why it’s really important that conversations are kept going all year round surrounding mental health and wellbeing.Â
What can you do to raise awareness and get involved?
1. Wear yellow. Be bright, be bold and put on your best yellow clothes to show your support and be a positive light to brighten someone’s day.
2. Donate to a mental health charity or organisation. This could be giving old clothes to a charity shop or donating via a secure giving page on an organisation’s website.
3. Share your story with the world. If you’re feeling confident or want to help others, you could try sharing your story if you’ve experienced mental health. By sharing your story, what helps you to manage your wellbeing and how you may have overcome certain mental health challenges can really be inspirational and may help others to seek professional support if they are struggling.
Remember, we all have mental health – and it’s important you feel supported in maintaining positive levels of emotional wellbeing.
Visit World Mental Health Day for information about mental health awareness, or check out our blog on anxiety and stress in college.
