Mental health is a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with stress. It includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Some times people use the term “mental health” to mean the absence of a mental disorder. Infact, Mental health is a term that encompasses a range of experiences and situations that an individual can feel both mentally and physically. It is an umbrella term which encompasses a continuum from the most severe disorders to a variety and common mental health problems and mild symptoms of different intensity and duration. Mental health is not just a concept that refers to an individual’s psychological and emotional well-being. Rather it’s a state of psychological and emotional well-being where an individual is able to use their cognitive and emotional capabilities, meet the ordinary demand and functions in the society. According to WHO, there is no single ‘official’ definition of mental health. Thus, there are many factors like cultural differences, competing professional theories, and subjective assessments that affect how mental health is defined. Also, there are many experts that agree that mental illness and mental health are not antonyms. So, in other words, when the recognized mental disorder is absent, it is not necessarily a sign of mental health. Every year world mental health day is observed on October 10. It was started as an annual activity by the world federation for mental health by deputy secretary-general of UNO at that time. Mental health resources differ significantly from one country to another. While the developed countries in the western world provide mental health programs for all age groups. Also, there are third world countries they struggle to find the basic needs of the families. Thus, it becomes prudent that we are asked to focus on mental health importance for one day. Mental health problems also interfere with how a person thinks, feels, and behaves, but to a lesser extent than mental illness. Mental health problems are more common and include the mental ill health that can be experienced temporarily as a reaction to the stresses of life. Mental health problems are less severe than mental illnesses, but may develop into a mental illness if they are not effectively dealt with. Mental health is related to the personality as a whole of that person. Thus, the most important function of school and education is to safeguard the mental health of boys and girls. Physical fitness is not the only measure of good health alone. Rather it’s just a means of promoting mental as well as moral health of the child. The two main factors that affect the most are feeling of inferiority and insecurity. Thus, it affects the child the most. So, they lose self-initiative and confidence. This should be avoided and children should be constantly encouraged to believe in themselves. The results show that many people are affected by mental illness especially young adults which can have many effects on the family, like financial stress, emotional and feelings of guilt. Mental illness can affect any one at all ages, gender, cultures, educational and income levels. What is important is the support the individual and family gets, therefore by supporting the family members it becomes easier for them to care for the sick person. Receiving help is the most important thing anyone can do for themselves. But unfortunately, the stigma keeps people from getting help. Mental illness should not be something to be ashamed about or thought of differently. When mental illness is treated equally to other illnesses, more people will have the courage to get help and better their lives. Mental illness can have a devastating effect on an individual, his or her family, friends, and on the community in many ways. How it affects the individual is obvious, reduced ability to care for themselves, strong negative emotions, distorted thoughts, inappropriate behavior, and reduced ability to maintain a relationship are only a few possible outcomes. On friends and family, it can be a major responsibility to care for someone suffering from a mental illness, the emotional and behavioral components of some illnesses can be very difficult at times to understand and to deal with. Mental illness also affects the community due to the high incidence of homelessness and unemployment in some serious disorders such as schizophrenia.We as a society are starting to see that depression doesn’t mean weakness, that anxiety doesn’t mean fear, and that schizophrenia doesn’t mean violence. We finally understand that needing help for mental or emotional reasons does not represent a character flaw. The World Health Organisation recognises World Mental Health Day on 10 October every year. It is marked every year on October 10 to raise awareness about mental health around the world and to mobilize efforts to support those experiencing mental health issues. Every year since 2013, the World Health Organization (WHO) has organized a global campaign for World Mental Health Day. For over 70 years, we’ve been working to make sure that mental health is treated on at par with physical health. Mental health problems exist in our lives, families, workplaces and communities, impacting everyone. We need to do as much as possible to prevent mental ill-health – as individuals and as a society. We will continue to call on national and local government to prioritise reducing the factors known to pose a risk to people’s mental health, enhancing those known to protect it and creating the conditions needed for people to thrive. World Mental Health Day is also a chance to talk about mental health in general, how we need to look after it, and how important it is to talk about things and get help if you are struggling. In 1992, the World Federation for Mental Health and the World Health Organization declared October 10th World Mental Health Day, and it continues to be observed each year. The goal of this day is to increase awareness about mental health. So what is World Mental Health Day? Each year the day is marked with World Mental Health Day posts, activities, and activism surrounding mental health. Keep reading for more on the history of this day and how you can participate this year! This day was created to educate the public about mental health and decrease the stigma surrounding mental health issues. While it was first celebrated in 1992, a theme was added for the first time in 1994, which was “Improving the Quality of Mental Health Services around the World.” Every year, there has been a specific theme to accompany the day.
“World Mental Health Day is to acknowledge the millions of people who suffer from mental health issues. It also promotes greater and equal access to resources and necessary treatment. World Mental Health Day post can include a personal story, statistics and other educational facts about mental health, or links to mental health resources. Anyone can also come up with his/her own idea!”
World Mental Health Day is celebrated every year on 10 October. This year’s theme set by the World Federation of Mental Health is workplace mental health. The theme highlights the importance of addressing mental health and wellbeing in the workplace, for the benefit of people, organisations, and communities. Good mental health is vital to our overall health and well-being. Yet one in eight people globally are living with mental health conditions, which can impact their physical health, their well-being, how they connect with others, and their livelihoods. Mental health conditions are also affecting an increasing number of adolescents and young people. Having a mental health condition should never be a reason to deprive a person of their human rights or to exclude them from decisions about their own health. Yet 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, while many more cannot access the mental health care they need or can only access care that violates their human rights. The theme for the year 2024 World Mental Health Day is “Mental Health at Work.” In collaboration with its partners, the World Health Organisation (WHO) is emphasising the crucial link between mental health and the workplace.”Mental Health at Work,” highlights the importance of supportive work environments. It was found that 1 in every 8 people in the world live with a mental disorder. This important day serves as a reminder that mental health is an essential part of overall health, and it encourages individuals and communities to take actions that support mental health. This day raises awareness about mental health, educates people, and helps them find resources. This is important for many reasons! First, normalizing mental health issues can decrease the stigma around them. Although this is improving, many people still experience shame around going to therapy or talking about their feelings. Campaigns such as this can encourage everyone to care for their mental health. Educating the public about the warning signs of mental health issues can help keep people safe. When people are aware of the warning signs of poor mental health, they can have necessary conversations with the people around them. They can also recognize when they or someone in their lives needs professional help. Increasing awareness around mental health issues also helps those who suffer from these conditions to feel less alone. Most mental illnesses are isolating by nature. When the truth about their widespread nature is shared, it helps many people feel less alone or ashamed. Islam values the importance of good mental health and emotional wellbeing. Religion is as old as mankind. From primitive times different religions have different beliefs and systems of worshipping. It is observed that every religion with their belief system has implications on mental health and illness. The most commonly studied religious practice is meditation. It has been reported that it can produce changes in personality and reduce tension. The concept of mental health is well defined in the Hindu scriptures as Gita outlines the characteristics of a person with positive mental health under the concept of Sthithaprajna (stable mind). All illness, including mental illness, may be seen as the result of karma from this, or a previous life.There are a lot of stigmas surrounding Christianity and mental health and sometimes it can lead to Christians feeling like they are not good enough or are failing due to a mental illness. However, having a mental illness is not a sin and in no way means you are weak. Islam values the importance of good mental health and emotional wellbeing. The holy Qur’an can be used as a guide to those suffering from emotional distress and aims to lead people to a meaningful quality of life. ‘There is no disease that Allah has created, except that He also has created its treatment’ (Hadith).There is an entire chapter in the Holy Quran that is dedicated to dealing with self esteem issues and emotional issues. There are healthy ways to deal with the emotions and unhealthy ways, which lead to depression, and other psychological disorders. The main ways to good mental being in Islamic teaching are: Connect with Allah and with people; Be physically active; Learn something new each day; Give to others; Pay attention to the present moment.In Islam, the cause of disability is not attributed to wrongdoing by the disabled person or their parents. It views disability as a challenge set by Allah. The Qur’an urges people to treat people with intellectual disabilities with kindness and to protect people with disabilities. Another important aspect of this day is advocating for countries to spend more of their budget on mental health resources. This is especially important in low-income countries. Individuals in these countries have minimal access to treatment. There are multiple ways to get involved and advocate for better mental health access everywhere. One way is to consider volunteering at a local crisis center or donating to one in your community. Another great way to celebrate this day is to check on a friend or loved one who has been struggling. Listen to them and offer to bring them dinner, help them clean, or do another task that might be difficult for them. We can also get involved by educating ourselves on mental illnesses. We can read a book or watch a documentary to learn more. If we experience mental illness ourself, we might take this opportunity to share our story, or simply to take extra time for self-care. World Mental Health Day is to acknowledge the millions of people who suffer from mental health issues. It also promotes greater and equal access to resources and necessary treatment. World Mental Health Day post can include a personal story, statistics and other educational facts about mental health, or links to mental health resources. Anyone can also come up with his/her own idea!
(The authors write regularly for the opinion pages of “Kashmir Horizon”. The views, opinions and conclusions expressed in this article are those of the authors and aren’t necessarily in accord with the views of “Kashmir Horizon”)
Uzma Nazir
Dr. Bilal A Bhat
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