World Mental Health Day takes place annually, on the 10 October. It was first recognised in 1992, by the World Federation for Mental Health. This organisation is a global mental health community, with members and contacts from more than 150 countries.

In parallel with this, the Mental Health Foundation has been campaigning for the past 70 years, in order to ensure that mental health is treated on an equal level with physical health. Not only that, but to also recognise that there is a strong connection between the two.

Mental health problems exist everywhere. They are present in our personal lives, those of our family members, of our friends, at work and in the public. It is important to highlight their presence, in order to aid mental ill-health prevention– both as individuals and as a society.

Worldwide days such as these call on national and local governments to prioritise reducing the factors known to pose a risk to people’s mental health. It raises awareness to the public and thus resulting in more support and services available, in order to protect the mental health of all individuals.

World Mental Health Day is also a chance to talk about mental health. How we could change the way we perceive it, how to look after it and highlight how important it is to have these conversations and to talk about it. Additionally, it’s a time to demonstrate that support is very widely available, should anybody be struggling with their mental health.

So let’s start talking about it…