The Theme for 2023 is: MENTAL HEALTH IS A UNIVERSAL HUMAN RIGHT.
This is a day set apart by the World Health Organisation [WHO] to sensitize people to the issue of Mental Health: DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, SCHIZOPHRENIA, Food, drug, shopping, or internet ADDICTIONS etc.
According to the WHO, mental health is a “state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community”.
This has been seen as our inalienable right. To achieve this, all hands must be on deck: individuals, the government, NGO’s, religious Organisations etc.
Mental health challenge cuts across age, sex, race, profession, or nationality. To solve this challenge, we must:
* BE OUR BROTHER’S [SISTER’S] KEEPER. LET’S LOOK AFTER THE WELFARE OF ONE ANOTHER.
[PLEASE, PICK YOUR PHONE AND CALL THAT FAMILY MEMBER, FRIEND, OR COLLEAGUE YOU HAVE NOT SEEN OR CALLED FOR SOMETIME NOW.You may never know the depth of what they may be going through.
* STOP THE STIGMATISATION AGAINST PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGE.
* STOP THE DISCRIMINATION TOO; WHETHER IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AT WORK, SCHOOL, COLLEGE, OR THE SOCIETY.
* SHOW THEM UNDERSTANDING AND EMPATHY.
* BE NON-JUDGMENTAL OF THEM, NEITHER LOOK DOWN ON THEM.
* PARENTS TO BE INTENTIONAL IN SPENDING TIME WITH THEIR CHILDREN.
* PARENTS TO AVOID USING NEGATIVE WORDS IN COMMUNICATING WITH THEIR CHILDREN.
* PARENTS TO AVOID BEEN ABUSIVE TOWARDS THEIR CHILDREN; whether verbally, emotionally, or physically.
* ADULT CHILDREN TO TAKE GOOD CARE OF THEIR PARENTS IN OLD AGE, AND NOT BE ABUSIVE TOWARDS THEM; whether verbally, emotionally, or physically etc.
PEOPLE FACING ANY MENTAL HEALTH DISORDER ARE TO:
* Refuse to keep quiet nor struggle alone.
* SEEK HELP PROMPTLY!
* VALUE YOURSELF!
* IF YOU ARE FEELING SUICIDAL, CALL THE SUICIDE PREVENTION HELPLINE IN YOUR AREA, or CONFIDE IN A TRUSTED PERSON; JUST DO NOT KEEP QUIET!!!
All of us are to:
* Do daily regular exercise.
* Eat balanced diet.
* AVOID junk food.
* Take time to relax.
* Have quality sleep.
SHARE THIS INFORMATION (and any other you know) WITH PEOPLE in your sphere of influence.
