<\/p>\n
A global social media challenge to get the world moving on mental health is launched today with a call for a massive scale-up in investment in mental health.<\/p>\n
Ahead of World Mental Health Day on 10 October, the World Health Organization, in collaboration with United for Global Mental Health and the World Federation for Mental Health, are encouraging people from all countries to support a global movement calling
\n for greater investment in mental health.<\/p>\n
The #MoveforMentalHealth challenge is asking people around the world to post videos showing what they do in support of their mental well-being\u00a0 \u0336\u00a0 whether it be dancing, walking, doing
\n yoga, cooking, painting or something else entirely, on their favourite social media platforms, using the hashtag #MoveForMentalHealth.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Social media platforms such as Tik-Tok, Facebook and Instagram are supporting \u00a0the #MoveforMentalHealth challenge and helping kickstart broader conversations about mental health, and the importance of investment.<\/p>\n
Messenger apps are providing support too. On World Mental Health Day, WHO will launch a digital stress management guide on the Whatsapp chat platform. Based on the stress management guide Doing what matters in times of stress<\/em><\/a>, the digital guide includes short, easy-to-follow guided exercises to help reduce stress.\u00a0 In addition, \u201cAs we continue to live through a global pandemic, we need movement on mental health, perhaps more than we have ever needed it before\u201d, said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO. “We need to move for our own mental health, The magnitude of the mental health burden faced around the world is not being matched by the investment it requires. The extraordinary increase in mental health needs \u00a0\u0336 \u00a0with the added challenges of COVID-19\u00a0 \u0336 \u00a0is taking its toll \u201cOur world wasn\u2019t set up to respond to the growing mental health needs before COVID-19, and it certainly isn\u2019t now. That\u2019s why now more than ever we need the world to move for mental health, and as individuals, communities, businesses, Close to one billion people globally have a mental disorder and those with severe mental disorders tend to die 10 -20 years earlier than the general population. Suicide is claiming the lives of close to 800 000 people every year \u00a0\u0336\u00a0 \u00a01 “Mental health is affected by many factors and circumstances. It touches on everything \u00a0\u0336 poverty, equality and development \u00a0\u0336 \u00a0which is why we need to ensure greater investment and greater access to mental health for all, ” said Dr Ingrid Other events taking place around this year\u2019s World Mental Health Day include:<\/p>\n Big Event for Mental Health<\/strong><\/p>\n On World Mental Health Day (Saturday 10 October), WHO is inviting the global community to take part in\u00a0The Big Event for Mental Health<\/em>, an unprecedented online advocacy event that will call for increased investment in mental health at all The Big Event\u00a0<\/em>is free and open to the public and will be broadcast on\u00a010 October from 16:00 to 19:00 CEST<\/strong>\u00a0on WHO\u2019s YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and LinkedIn channels and website. For updated information World\u2019s first virtual March for Mental Health<\/strong><\/p>\n The world\u2019s first virtual March for Mental Health will live stream 9-10 October and over the course of 24 hours mental health experts, campaigners, advocates, and people with lived experience from more than 17 countries will be sharing their stories The Grand Celebration<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n The Global Mental Health Fest’20 organized by the World Federation for Mental Health will bring together people from different communities, age groups, organizations and institutions from across the world. The stage will be open for various perspectives Note: To access the stress management guide on Whatsapp, click here<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The World Health Organization<\/strong><\/p>\n The World Health Organization provides global leadership in public health within the United Nations system. Founded in 1948, WHO works with 194 Member States, across six regions and from more than 150 offices, to promote health, keep the world safe and United for Global Mental Health<\/strong><\/p>\n United for Global Mental Health brings together the global mental health community with governments, funders and campaigners to help make sure everyone, everywhere has someone to turn to in support of their mental health. The not-for-profit organization The World Federation for Mental Health<\/strong><\/p>\n The World Federation for Mental Health is an international membership organization founded in 1948 to advance, among all peoples and nations, the prevention of mental and emotional disorders, the proper treatment and care of those with such disorders, \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n Messenger will be launching a new sticker pack designed with the support of WHO, to facilitate conversations around mental health.<\/p>\n
\n the mental health of our families, friends and colleagues, and more importantly, so that there is a massive increase in investment for mental health services at national and international levels.”\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n on already overburdened and under-resourced mental health services. Countries spend on average only 2% of their health budgets on mental health. Despite some increases in recent years, international development assistance for mental health has never
\n exceeded 1% of all development assistance for health.<\/p>\n
\n governments and funders we must prioritise action on, and investment in mental health,\u201d said Elisha London, CEO and Founder of United for Global Mental Health.<\/p>\n
\n person every 40 seconds \u00a0\u0336 \u00a0and is the second leading cause of death for young people aged 15-29 years. Relatively few people around the world have access to quality mental health services, especially in low- and middle-income countries
\n where more than 75% of people with mental, neurological and substance use disorders receive no treatment for their condition at all.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n Daniels, President of the World Federation for Mental Health.<\/p>\n
\n levels.<\/p>\n
\n about the\u00a0Big Event, including the latest line up of performances and participants, visit\u00a0the\u00a0Big Event\u00a0web page<\/a>. To
\n learn more about World Mental Health Day, visit\u00a0WHO\u2019s campaign page<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\n as part of a global momentum to drive change and investment in mental health globally. For more information and to sign up and join the March visit www.marchformentalhealth.com<\/a><\/p>\n
\n to blend and consolidate, promoting the essence of unity and solidarity as we work together to establish mental well-being as our universal right. More information from www.wmhd2020.com<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n serve the vulnerable. WHO\u2019s goals for 2019-2023 are to ensure that a billion more people have universal health coverage, to protect a billion more people from health emergencies, and to provide a further billion people with better health and
\n well-being. @WHO<\/p>\n
\n was launched at the UN in September 2018. www.unitedgmh.org<\/a> @UnitedGMH<\/p>\n
\n and the promotion of mental health. The Federation was the initiator of World Mental Health Day.\u00a0https:\/\/wfmh.global\/<\/a> @WMHDay\u00a0<\/p>\n