World Mental Health Day 2023 – “Mental health is a universal human right”

The 10th of October is World Mental Health Day, a day to raise awareness of mental illness and demonstrate its importance to everyone. It’s also a day to encourage individuals to seek assistance no matter what they’re going through.

Mental health is a universal human right, as the World Mental Health Day theme emphasizes. Because of this, the Mental Health Foundation is committed to tackling the disparities in mental health and advancing excellent mental health for everyone, not just a select few. Find out more below.

Over 260,000 individuals participated in Tea & Talks for World Mental Health Day this year, helping to raise money that are crucial for mental health! Every contribution helps our work to change lives and moves us closer to a world with healthy mental health for all.

All persons have the fundamental right to mental health. Everyone has a right to the best possible level of mental health, no matter who they are or where they live. This encompasses the right to be safeguarded against threats to one’s mental health, the right to readily available, palatable, and high-quality care, as well as the right to liberty, independence, and inclusion in society.

Our physical and mental wellbeing are interdependent. However, one in eight people worldwide suffer from mental health disorders, which can have an adverse effect on their physical health, general wellbeing, interpersonal relationships, and ability to earn a living. Teenagers and young adults are becoming more and more affected by mental health issues.

But all over the world, people with mental health conditions continue to experience a wide range of human rights violations. Many are excluded from community life and discriminated against. Many more cannot access the mental health care they need or can only access care that violates their human rights.

Many people are excluded from communal life and subjected to discrimination, while many more are either unable to receive the necessary mental health care or can only access care that infringes on their human rights.

In order to ensure that everyone may exercise their human rights and obtain the high-quality mental health treatment they require, WHO continues to collaborate with its partners to ensure that mental health is recognized, promoted, and safeguarded. Learn more about your fundamental right to mental health and how to defend the rights of others by participating in the World Mental Health Day 2023 campaign.

Key Messages of the World Mental Health Day

• Mental health is a universal human right.
• Each person has the right to access quality mental health care.
• We must all stand up against the stigma and discrimination surrounding mental health.
• Everyone has the right to live independently and to be included in the community.
• Good quality community mental health services and support are crucial for everyone’s future.
• Recognizing mental health as a universal human right empowers people to stand up for their rights – and for others around them.
• Good mental health is an essential part of our overall health and wellbeing.
• Mental health conditions are a significant threat to the wellbeing of youths.
• You may know your mind – but do you know your rights as well? Everyone’s mind is a wonderful, complex and different. But our rights are all the same