World Mental Health Day is observed
on October 10 every year at the initiative of the World Federation for Mental
Health (WFMH) to spread awareness about mental health issues. Since its
inception in 1992, the day, dedicated to reducing the stigma around mental health, has been observed every year
across the globe.

In
1994, the Secretary General of WFMH, Eugene Brody suggested the use of a theme. The
theme was ‘Improving the Quality of Mental Health Services throughout the
World’ for that year. Since then,  a new theme is followed every year in the
awareness program.

Also Read | World Mental Health Day: History and significance

Over
the years, some of the themes have been Women and Mental Health (1996),
Children and Mental Health (1997), Mental and Physical Health across the Life
Span (2005), Depression: A Global Crisis (2012), and Mental Health Promotion
and Suicide Prevention (2019).

Theme

This
year, the theme being followed is ‘Make Mental Health and Well-Being for All a
Global Priority’.

‘Whilst the pandemic has, and continues to, take its toll on our mental
health, the ability to reconnect through World Mental Health Day 2022 will
provide us with an opportunity to re-kindle our efforts to protect and improve
mental health.‘ The website of the World Health Organization (WHO) reads.

About the theme of this year, WHO wrote, ‘WHO will work with partners to launch
a campaign around the theme of Making
Mental Health & Well-Being for All a Global Priority. This
will be an opportunity for people with mental health conditions, advocates, governments,
employers, employees, and other stakeholders to come together to recognize
progress in this field and to be vocal about what we need to do to ensure Mental Health & Well-Being becomes a Global
Priority for all.’

Also Read | Shawn Mendes cancels rest of ‘Wonder’ world tour to focus on mental health

Celebrations

While
in most countries, just October 10 is observed for Mental Health, many others
like USA and Australia observe an entire week for the cause. The day is
celebrated in over 150 countries that are members or connected with the WFMH.

Since the launch of the Mental Health Awareness Campaign Week last year in India, World Mental Health Day marks the final day of the campaign. The campaign was launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.