Mental disorders are not something to be taken lightly. It is possible that you or your loved ones are suffering from it. World Mental Health Day was created to raise awareness of mental disorders, which claim around one million lives a year.

Why is World Mental Health Day named so?

World Mental Health Day got its name in an effort to promote the necessity of mental health. This day serves to educate about mental health problems, their consequences, and ways to prevent them.

When is World Mental Health Day 2022?

World Mental Health Day is celebrated annually on the 10th of October. This day is a reminder to take care of our mental health and the mental health of our loved ones. Mental health is not something to be taken lightly. It affects our daily lives, and it is in everyone’s best interest to be mentally well.

What is the theme of World Mental Health Day 2022?

This year’s theme for World Mental Health Day 2022 is ensuring mental health and well-being for all become a global priority. However, this daunting task begins within us. First of all, we have to think about ourselves, because only if we feel good, only then we will be able to help our surroundings. We should use this day to reflect on ourselves, whether we feel mentally well and whether we need help. Asking for help is not a bad thing at all. We don’t have to hide behind the mask of being a healthy person, and it’s okay to admit that we don’t feel the way we want to feel. It’s okay not to be okay, and realizing that is a necessary first step to feeling better.

History of World Mental Health Day

October 10 is known around the world as World Mental Health Day – the result of a global advocacy and awareness programme launched in 1992 by the World Federation for Mental Health. The World Federation for Mental Health, founded in 1948 in London, is dedicated to promotion and education to change the perception of mental illness. Each year, the World Federation for Mental Health selects a theme for World Mental Health Day and publishes awareness-raising materials.

Every year on October 10, thousands of individuals and groups come together to celebrate and support the only global day for mental health awareness. This annual program was created as a way to bring greater attention to mental illness and its impact on individual life, work, family, and the overall stability of communities and countries.

The importance of World Mental Health Day

The importance of World Mental Health Day lies in promoting awareness of mental health risks. Statistics indicate that over 10% of the world’s population suffers from some form of mental illness. Depression is the most common (around 3.5%), followed by anxiety disorder (around 4%), while bipolar disorder or eating disorders are less common but equally important.

Mental disorders have been part of our society since time immemorial. Unfortunately, in the past they have been seen as a defect of the individual and rather than being addressed, these people have been stigmatised. Fortunately, these days it is different, and a large part of the population now knows that a mental disorder does not mean that a person is dysfunctional and unfit for inclusion in society. Such people can be helped, and we should all try to help them.

That is why we mark World Mental Health Day every year – to raise awareness of the existence of mental disorders, and to keep learning how to prevent them and how to help people who suffer from them.

How to celebrate World Mental Health Day?

If you want to get involved in the World Mental Health Day discussion, you can do so on Twitter using the hashtag #WorldMentalHealthDay. During World Mental Health Day there are also many lectures and workshops giving advice on how to feel better, what to do for yourself, and how to help those around you who have a mental health problems. Use this day to educate yourself about mental health issues that are becoming more and more relevant in our society.

If you want to show your support for World Mental Health Day, you can buy a green ribbon to symbolise the fight against mental illness.

What can I do to feel better?

Admitting that you have mental health problems is not at all shameful. On the contrary, it is a sign of strength and determination to change the situation. If you are struggling with mental health issues, there are a few things you can do for yourself.

The first thing is to seek professional help. Seek the help of a psychologist, and choose one that you feel comfortable with and can tell everything that is bothering you. Only by opening up can you begin to address deep-seated issues that you may not even be aware of. If the Covid-19 pandemic has produced anything useful, it is that even psychologists have learned to work at a distance, and that’s if face-to-face meetings don’t suit you.

But you can also improve your mental health through lifestyle changes. Here are some tips from the experts:

• Try to spend more time with people and make new friends. Making interpersonal connections can be very difficult for many people, but trust me, if you’re afraid to make a new friendship with someone new, you’re not alone. There are certainly many people in your neighbourhood and in the world in general who feel the same way. Plus, the rise of social media has made meeting new people all the easier.
• Be more physically active. Deciding to do something for your body can be somewhat challenging, but both your body and your mind will thank you for it. All you have to do is go for a walk, bike ride, run, or play a sport, and you’ll feel much better. It may only take a little while, but it can kick-start a new hobby that will give you joy in your life. You don’t get anything for trying.
• Be more mindful. It’s not easy, but if you try to think more about yourself, you can find out for yourself what’s bothering you and what you’re missing. That’s the first step to solving your problems. As long as you feel like a “stranger” in your head, you will never be “at home” and you will not feel as good as you could.
• Learn something new. Try new hobbies, and expand your horizons with new knowledge. There’s plenty of that. Think back to your youth and try to remember what you enjoyed as a child. You may not have had the means then, but what about today? It may sound a bit far-fetched, but personally, I loved the Middle Ages when I was younger, so how about trying blacksmithing? I’m sure if you think about it, you’ll find something that might interest you.
  Help others. It’s sometimes said that those who don’t feel good about themselves can’t help others. That is, in my opinion, nonsense. On the contrary, helping other people has a beneficial effect on us. Be helpful and kind-hearted, the world will reciprocate and maybe you will feel better.
• Don’t be mad at yourself for doing what you enjoy. Many times I’ve encountered my friends being mad at themselves for doing something that was “unproductive”. It’s perfectly fine to lie down from time to time during the day, watch a TV show, or play a game. Our minds can only hold a certain number of sensations, and it’s okay if we regenerate with some undemanding activity. Take it easy.

These are just a few tips recommended by experts. If you can think of anything yourself that helps you feel better, be sure to let me know in the comments. But most importantly – mental health is nothing to be taken lightly. Sometimes what happens is that no matter what you do, nothing helps you feel better. In that case, please reach out to your loved ones, confide in them, and confide in professionals.