Background Information:

World Mental Health Day is celebrated on 10 October each year. This year, the theme is ‘Making Mental Health & Well-Being for All a Global Priority‘.

Key Messages:

Mental health conditions are widespread, undertreated and under-resourced.

One in eight live with a mental health condition.

71% people with psychosis do not receive mental health services.

On average 2% of health budgets are allocated to mental health.

Across the world, mental health needs are high but responses are inadequate and insufficient.

Only 21% of countries report implementing policies and plans that fully comply with human rights instruments.

In low income countries there are less than one mental health worker per 100 000 population.

Social benefits promote and protect mental health.

Work affects mental health and well-being.

One in six working adults lives with a mental disorder.

Every year, 12 billion workdays are lost because of depression and anxiety alone.

Prevent sources of stress that pose a risk to mental health at work:

• Discrimination and inequality
• Poor working environments
• Underpaid and undervalued
• Harassment and bullying
• High job demands
• Low job control

Protect mental health at work by training managers and supervisors to:

• Identify and act on job stressors that affect mental health
• Strengthen their interpersonal management skills
• Recognize and respond to emotional distress

Support people with mental health conditions to participate and thrive at work:

• Adapt work to match capacities and needs
• Participate in return-to-work programmes
• Champion supported-employment initiatives
• Eliminate mental health stigma

Useful Links:

Link to the World Mental Health Day 2022 site:

https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-mental-health-day/2022

Link to WHO page with mental well-being resources for the public:

https://www.who.int/news-room/feature-stories/mental-well-being-resources-for-the-public