Blog 
World Mental Health Day is marked each year on October 10.
An initiative of the World Health Organisation, this year’s global theme is Mental Health Care for All: Let’s Make it a Reality.
According to WHO, more than 18 months since the start of the COVD-19 pandemic, all countries have felt the impact of the pandemic on people’s mental health.
“Good mental health and well-being are essential for all of us to lead fulfilling lives, to realise our full potential, to participate productively in our communities and to demonstrate resilience in the face of stress and adversity,” said WHO Director General Ted Ghebreyesus.
“Likewise, mental health services are an essential component of health care and universal health coverage.”
World Mental Health Day provides opportunities for advocacy of mental health issues, but also provides an opportunity to empower individuals to look after their own mental health and encourage support of others who may be facing challenges.
Coping Through a Pandemic
As part of World Mental Health Day 2021 WHO has published testimonials from people talking about how their mental health has been affected by the pandemic and how they have coped.
There are also resources available to educate about depression, one of the most common mental health conditions.
Global Mental Health Action Plan
WHO has also updated its Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan 2013-2030 which outlines global targets for the promotion of mental health and wellbeing for all, prevention of mental health conditions for those at risk and aims to achieve universal coverage for mental health services.
Download the WHO action plan.
Core objectives of the action plan are:
- to strengthen effective leadership and governance for mental health
- to provide comprehensive, integrated and responsive mental health and social care services in community-based settings
- to implement strategies for promotion and prevention in mental health
- to strengthen information systems, evidence and research for mental health
Targets include:
- Service coverage for mental health conditions will have increased at least by half, by 2030.
- 80% of countries will have doubled the number of community-based mental health facilities, by 2030.
- The rate of suicide will be reduced by one-third, by 2030.
- 80% of countries will be routinely collecting and reporting at least a core set of mental health indicators every two years through their national health and social information systems, by 2030.
Australian Mental Health Policies
A WHO member nation, Australian policy makers recognise that almost half of all Australian adults will face mental ill-health at some point in their lives.
Information about Australia’s mental health policies and programs to help build a strong mental health system can be found on the Department of Health website and National Mental Health Commission website.
Australian World Mental Health Day Campaign
Australia’s World Mental Health Day campaign this year encourages everyone to make a promise to Look after Your Mental Health, Australia.
The campaign asks people to select or make a promise to prioritise aspects of their mental health and wellbeing. According to the campaign information, making a mental health promise is a great way to remind yourself to look after your wellbeing.
You can select a promise or write your own promise via the campaign website.
States and territories are also running other mental health campaigns to coincide with World Mental Health Day.
West Australian Mental Health Week
Mental Health Week in WA is held each year around World Mental Health Day.
Coordinated by the Western Australian Association for Mental Health, with support from the WA Mental Health Commission, Mental Health Week aims to highlight the connection between social determinants and mental health while also promoting effective prevention strategies to keep people mentally healthy.
The theme for Mental Health Week 2021 in Western Australia is Mental Health Starts with our Children.
Visit the mental health week website to see events scheduled.
Contact Psychological Health Care, Perth
Struggling with mental health or just want to talk through how to reach some mental health goals? Contact Psychological Health Care in Perth.
We treat patients from all over Perth at our psychology clinic in Dianella. To make an appointment simply give us a call or fill out the contact form and we’ll call you to confirm.
To find out more about our psychologists and their specialist areas, visit our meet the team page.