Mental Health
World Mental Health Day
World Mental Health Day (WMHD), celebrated annually on 10 October, is organized by the World Federation for Mental Health and endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO). The event represents a global commitment to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and to mobilize efforts in support and stigma reduction in mental health.
Stigma in Mental Health
Mental health stigma is one of the most difficult challenges of our time, mainly because it discourages people from seeking help for fear of being labeled. Stigma, discrimination and human rights violations against people with mental health problems are common in communities and care systems everywhere. Respect and support people with lived experience are necessary actions to avoid attitudes of prejudice and discrimination. Documents on VHL
Mental health and Covid-19
Added to the fear of contracting the virus in a pandemic such as COVID-19 is the impact of the significant changes to our daily lives brought on by efforts to contain and slow down the spread of the virus. Faced with the challenging new realities of social distancing, working from home, temporary unemployment, home-schooling of children, and lack of physical contact with loved ones and friends, it is important that we look after our mental, as well as our physical, health. PAHO/WHO Documents on VHL
Prevention on suicidal thoughts
Suicide is a significant but often neglected public health issue surrounded by stigma, myths, and taboos. Every case of suicide is a tragedy that severely impacts not only individuals but also families and communities. Each year, more than 700,000 people take their own life after many suicide attempts, corresponding to one death every 40 seconds. PAHO/WHO Documents on VHL
