we're breaking stigmas, together.

The overall objective of World Mental Health day is to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and mobilise efforts in support of mental health.

The Day provides an opportunity for all of us, as well as those working in the realm mental health support, to talk about our experiences and our work, and what more needs to be done to make mental health care a reality for people worldwide. 

The very existence of this international day means that we are breaking stigmas and barriers that have been associated with mental health for decades – normalising what it means to suffer from mental health and making sure everyone has the support system they need behind them. 

Today there are thousands of local charities operating across the world, with 24-hour hotlines and in some cases anonymous apps and chatrooms available for an entire range of support needs. If there is one positive around mental health in 2020 is the collective work we are all doing to break down every last bit of stigma associated with suffering from mental health conditions and making sure we are all supporting one another, together. 

If you want to find more resources on mental health, managing stress and how to find support, click HERE.

depression, anxiety and suicide are on the rise

Almost 800,000 people die by suicide every year, that means that 1 person dies from suicide every 40 seconds, putting suicide as the second leading cause of death in individuals aged 15-29 years. 

What does it mean that young people are most susceptible to suffering from fatal cases of mental health? Have we failed our young by not equipping them with the tools and support they need? Or is it the ever-growing volatility of our world today that is impacting our future generations, leaders, innovators and changemakers the most? 

Job insecurity, of course, has much to do with this, together with a growing precarity to our world. Throw into the mix the fear of climate change and you have yourself quite a powerful cocktail. But it doesn't stop there. On top of this, the rise of social media and technology at our fingertips is driving an entire generation of individuals to experience mental health conditions like never before. 

The very premise of our phones, social media and all the technologies that keep us glued to our devices is built on the idea of addiction; of dopamine hits and of constructed lows that have us reaching for our phones again at the cost of our happiness. 

Please visit CHT's website to read more about the problem at hand and learn about the important work this organisation does. On the website, you could also learn about ways to get involved, access toolkits, and make a donation.