World Mental health day is the day we observe globally to raise awareness about mental health problems, advocate against related social stigma, promote mental health education and encourage other relevant activities. It is an international day, meaning that the day is observed all around the world on the same date with the same intent. World Foundation for Mental Health (WFMH), a global organization working on mental health was the first to take the initiatives to observe this day. First observed in 1992 by WFMH and its members in about 150 countries, the event gathered huge support across borders. Since then, WFMH and similar organizations have been observing it the same day every year. It is also supported by the United Nation’s World Health Organization (WHO) and its many clients and sister organizations in coordination with Ministries of Health and civil services all around the globe.
Although it was first celebrated under the leadership of Richard Hunter, who was WFMH Deputy Secretary General at the time, it had no particular theme. Rather it had the generic goal of spreading awareness about mental illness, promoting mental health and educating the public about it. However, in 1994, then-Secretary General Eugene Brody first suggested that a theme be adopted every year to work on a particular aspect. The first theme for this cause was “Improving the Quality of Mental Health Services throughout the World”. Since then, WFMH has adopting a new theme each year. Some of the prominent themes adopted for World Mental Health Day include “Mental Health and Human Rights” in 1998, “The Relationship Between Physical & Mental Health: Co-occurring Disorders” in 2004, “Mental Health and Chronic Physical Illnesses” in 2010 and “Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention” in 2018.In 2019, the themes is “Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention”.
As the world changes around us, human beings are facing new challenges each day. Failure, grief, stress and mental pressure are forcing many people to succumb to suicidal thoughts. This challenge is growing bigger every day. It is estimated that about one in 5,000–15,000 people dies by suicide every year, which is about 1.4% of all deaths, with a reported global rate of 10.7 per 100,000 people in 2015 — up from 11.6 in 2008. This year the aim is to shine a light on this critical problem, educate the public and encourage people to open up about their mental problems — in a bid reduce suicide. At the end of the day, mental health is a major issue in our personal lives. One cannot expect sound physical fitness without sound mental health. Thus we observe this day each year with hopes to support people that are in need of help to live a more meaningful life.
Md Mahbubul Alam
Associate Co-ordinatior (Documentations)
House of Volunteers, DU Chapter
Siku ya Afya ya Akili ya Dunia ni siku ambayo tunasherehekea ulimwenguni kote ili kuongeza ufahamu juu ya matatizo ya afya ya akili, kutetea dhidi ya stigma ya kijamii inayohusiana, kukuza elimu ya afya ya akili na kuhamasisha shughuli zingine zinazohusiana. Ni siku ya kimataifa, ikimaanisha kwamba siku hiyo huadhimishwa ulimwenguni kote siku ileile na nia ileile. Shirika la World Foundation for Mental Health (WFMH) ambalo ni shirika la kimataifa linalohusika katika masuala ya afya ya akili, limekuwa miongoni mwa mashirika ya kwanza kutangaza siku hiyo. Tangu mwaka 1992 WFMH na wanachama wake katika nchi 150 wamekuwa wakishirikiana na kuandaa maandamano ya kimataifa. Tangu wakati huo, WFMH na mashirika mengine kama hayo yamekuwa yakisherehekea siku hiyo hiyo kila mwaka. Pia inasaidiwa na Shirika la Afya Duniani la Umoja wa Mataifa (WHO) na wateja wake wengi na mashirika ya dada kwa uratibu na Wizara za Afya na huduma za kiraia kote ulimwenguni. Ilikuwa ni siku ya kwanza kwa mwaka wa 2000 wakati Richard Hunter, aliyekuwa naibu katibu mkuu wa WFMH, alikuwa akiongoza sherehe hiyo. Badala yake ilikuwa na lengo la jumla la kueneza ufahamu kuhusu ugonjwa wa akili, kukuza afya ya akili na kuelimisha umma kuhusu hilo. Mwaka 1994 Katibu Mkuu Eugene Brody alipendekeza kwamba kila mwaka kuwe na mandhari ya kila mwaka. Mandhari ya kwanza kwa sababu hii ilikuwa <unk> Kuboresha ubora wa Huduma za Afya ya Akili ulimwenguni kote<unk>. Tangu wakati huo, WFMH imekuwa ikichukua mandhari mpya kila mwaka. "Miongoni mwa mandhari maarufu zilizopitishwa kwa ajili ya Siku ya Afya ya Akili ya Dunia ni ""Safisha ya Akili na Haki za Binadamu"" mwaka 1998, ""Uhusiano kati ya Afya ya Kihisia na Afya ya Akili: Matatizo ya Pamoja"" mwaka 2004, ""Safisha ya Akili na Magonjwa ya Mwili ya Muda mrefu"" mwaka 2010 na ""Uendelezaji wa Afya ya Akili na Kuzuia Kujiua"" mwaka 2019." Kadiri ulimwengu unavyobadilika, wanadamu wanakabiliwa na changamoto mpya kila siku. Kushindwa, huzuni, mkazo na mkazo wa kiakili huwafanya watu wengi wajiue. Changamoto hii inazidi kuwa kubwa kila siku. Inakadiriwa kuwa mtu mmoja kati ya watu 5,000 hadi 15,000 hujiua kila mwaka, ambayo ni karibu 1.4% ya vifo vyote, na kiwango cha kimataifa cha 10.7 kwa watu 100,000 mnamo 2015 - juu kutoka 11.6 mnamo 2008. Lengo la mwaka huu ni kuangazia tatizo hili muhimu, kuelimisha umma na kuhamasisha watu kufungua juu ya matatizo yao ya akili - katika zabuni ya kupunguza kujiua. Mwishowe, afya ya akili ni suala muhimu katika maisha yetu ya kibinafsi. Mtu hawezi kutarajia kuwa na afya nzuri ya kimwili bila kuwa na afya nzuri ya akili. Kwa hiyo, kila mwaka tunasherehekea siku hii kwa matumaini ya kuwasaidia watu wanaohitaji msaada ili wawe na maisha yenye maana zaidi. M.D. Mahbubul Alam Mshirika Mratibu (Hati) Nyumba ya Wajitoleaji, DU Sura