'Mental Health In An Unequal World' — World Mental Health Day 2021 Theme, History And Significance

World Mental Health Day 2021 theme announced by World Federation for Mental Health is ‘Mental Health in an Unequal World’. WHO theme is ‘Mental health care for all: let's make it a reality’

Representational image (Source: Getty)

New Delhi: The World Mental Health Day is observed every year on October 10. The theme for World Mental Health Day 2021, announced by World Federation for Mental Health President Dr Ingrid Daniels, is "Mental Health in an Unequal World". 

The theme aims to highlight how inequalities due to race and ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, and the lack of respect for human rights, have an impact on people's mental health. Also, people suffering from mental health disorders are looked down upon by many, which further worsens their condition.

The World Health Organization (WHO) theme for World Mental Health Day 2021 is "Mental health care for all: let's make it a reality". This theme majorly focuses on the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on the mental health of people worldwide. 

Almost 1 billion people suffer from a mental disorder, worldwide.

Around 280 million people suffer from depression globally, according to the WHO. It is estimated that five per cent of adults suffer from depression.

One out of seven persons belonging to the age group 10 to 19 years experience a mental disorder.

Severe mental disorders like schizophrenia tend to increase the likelihood of death in the persons suffering from those diseases, 10-20 years earlier than the general population. 

The fourth leading cause of death for young people aged 15-29 is suicide, and one in every 100 deaths is by suicide. 

World Mental Health Day History

Richard Hunter, the Deputy Secretary General of World Federation for Mental Health in 1992, started World Mental Health Day as an activity to be observed every year on October 10. World Mental Health Day was marked for the first time on October 10, 1992.

There were no specific themes at the beginning, but the general aim of promoting mental health advocacy and educating the public on relevant issues. For the first three years, the US information agency satellite system from studios in Tallahassee, Florida, globally broadcasted a two-hour telecast to mark World Mental Health Day. 

The theme of World Mental Health Day 1994 was "Improving the Quality of Mental Health Services throughout the World". Board members of the World Federation of Mental Health had arranged events in many countries, including notable campaigns in Australia and England. 

Shortly after the campaign, 27 countries sent their feedback reports. By 1995, the World Mental Health Day had become a valuable occasion witnessing participation from different government departments, organisations and stakeholders worldwide. 

World Mental Health Day Significance

The objective of World Mental Health Day is to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and to mobilise efforts in support of mental health, according to the WHO.

On this day, people working on mental health issues can discuss their work, and advise the world what steps must be taken to ensure good mental health. The aim is to remove taboos and myths related to mental health issues, to encourage the world to share their distress without feeling ashamed, and to educate people about giving the same importance to mental health as that given to physical health. 

Inequalities and Mental Health

The theme of "Mental Health in an Unequal World" was chosen by the World Federation for Mental Health because of the increasing polarity in the world, where the very wealthy are becoming wealthier, while huge numbers of people are still living in poverty. Also, there is unequal access to mental health. As much as 75 to 95 per cent of people with mental health disorders in low- and middle-income countries are unable to access mental health services.

Many people living in high-income countries also do not seek medical help, even if they have access. The mental health treatment gap arises because of the fact that there is a lack of investment in this sector, states the World Federation for Mental Health. 

The social stigma and discrimination experienced by those suffering from a mental disease often makes them reluctant to seek professional help. The persistent idea behind every year's theme is to eradicate the misconceptions about mental health.