World Mental Health Day 2017 was celebrated on the 10th of October – a day with the overall objective of raising awareness of mental health issues and mobilising efforts in support of mental health. A day where we remember the importance of fighting the social stigma surrounding mental illness. A day to advocate for better mental health care for all.
Credit: CormacMoore
For Unity in Health and all of those who we work with, this is a day of most importance. Mental health remains one of the most unpopular areas of healthcare, attracting little attention from policy makers, service providers and society in general. People living with mental illness in Sri Lanka, Nepal and the rest of South Asia, are some of the most discriminated and excluded members in society. The more mental health is acknowledged and talked about, the more likely those affected by psychosocial problems are to feel included and supported by all.