The World Federation for Mental Health celebrated World Mental Health Day on 10th October 1992, under the aegis of the then Deputy Secretary General Richard Hunter with the aim of promoting mental health advocacy and educating the public on relevant issues related to mental health. Since then, the day is commemorated every year on 10th October. This day serves as a reminder of the dangers associated with the stigma around mental health and the pressing need for greater acceptance of people with mental health issues as well as recognition of mental health professionals.
The theme of this year’s World Mental Health Day was ‘Mental Health in an Unequal World’ to bring into focus the glaring disparities in access to mental health services due to the widening health, social, economic, and cultural inequalities that have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
To celebrate this year’s World Mental Health Day, the Psychology Club prepared a short presentation on the topic ‘Dealing With Setbacks’. It began with snippets of a survey the members conducted in which they asked people about what they think mental health means and how awareness around it has evolved over the years. This was followed by a panel discussion held by four of the members in which each of them spoke about the major setbacks they faced and how they dealt with them. The aim of the presentation was for teachers to conduct classroom discussions and encourage students to share their experiences as well. Students in all classes actively participated in these discussions and it was an enriching experience for both the students and teachers alike.