World Mental Health Day - The Nirvana Centre

Mental Health is a Universal Human Right

Every year we celebrate World Mental Health Day on 10th October.

The theme for 2023, set by the World Foundation of Mental Health, is ‘Mental health is a universal human right’. World Mental Health Day is about raising awareness of mental health and driving positive change for everyone’s mental health. Mental health is a basic human right for all people. Everyone, whoever and wherever they are, has a right to the highest attainable standard of mental health. This includes the right to be protected from mental health risks, the right to available, accessible, acceptable, and good quality care, and the right to liberty, independence and inclusion in the community. (https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-mental-health-day/2023)

Mental health is a universal human right. Human rights are universal and serve to promote and protect people’s right to dignity, autonomy and community inclusion. People must have access to good mental health services as well as education, income generation, housing opportunities and social support in order to live independently and be included in their communities. By knowing your mental health rights, you can stand up for what’s right – for you and for others.

In recent years, there has been increasing acknowledgement of the important role mental health plays in achieving global development goals, as illustrated by the inclusion of mental health in the Sustainable Development Goals. Depression is one of the leading causes of disability. Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among 15-29-year-olds. People with severe mental health conditions die prematurely – as much as two decades early – due to preventable physical conditions. Despite progress in some countries, people with mental health conditions often experience severe human rights violations, discrimination, and stigma.

On this auspicious day let’s take a pledge to join hands to promote & protect everyone’s mental health as a universal human right.

“Our Minds…..Our Rights……”