World Mental Health Day, 2021.

Theme: Mental Health in an Unequal World.

World Mental Health Day is observed every year on the 10^th of October. This day is set to create awareness and educate people on mental health issues around the world, mobilise efforts in support of mental health, and advocate against social stigma. Our mental health is very important at any point in our lives. This is because it includes our emotional, psychological and social well-being. Our mental health affects our thoughts, actions, and our interaction with other people. In general, our mental health determines how we manage our daily lives.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines mental health as ‘a state of well-being in which an individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully and is able to make a contribution to his or her community’. Often times, the term ‘mental health’ is misunderstood as mental health conditions like depression and anxiety. Mental Health is a state of wellness and not a state of illness. Mental health in general, is complex. The fact that someone is not experiencing any mental health condition does not mean that he or she has a flourishing mental health. Someone may also experience some mental health conditions while feeling well in many aspects of his or her life. Good mental health is achieved when a person can think clearly, solve everyday problems, relish happy relationships and feel spiritually at ease.

Mental health conditions are disorders that affect your mood, thoughts and actions. The most common types of mental health conditions are clinical depression, anxiety disorder, stress, bipolar disorder, dementia, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), schizophrenia, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), autism and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Join us on our next blog as we dive deeper into these common types of mental health conditions. Reach out to us if you need help from our psychological team. You can also send your questions to the ‘Ask us’ section on our website where experts are ready to answer your questions.