Around the world, some groups not only have limited access to quality health services, but also struggle to make ends meet with little daily income, have poorer access to safe housing conditions and quality education, fewer employment opportunities that pay a living wage, inequality, and have little or no access to safe environments, clean water and air and health services, and suffer from food insecurity. The groups that suffer the most from these disadvantages are often those who suffer ethnic and gender discrimination. These conditions can lead to unnecessary suffering, preventable illness, and premature death. And it damages our societies and economies. For those people, mental health treatment has become first and foremost.
The realization that mental health is as important as physical health has been well-established in the last two years. During this lockdown period of the Covid-19 Pandemic, the combination of mutual cooperation in preventing the mental distress of the beleaguered people is really commendable. There has never been such an opportunity to learn to understand each other. But the worry is that the loneliness of self-centred people has largely gone to disaster. Mental illnesses such as panic disorder, anxiety attack, depression, suicidal tendencies, somnolence etcetera are almost on the rise. This captivity has attacked every human being separately. As a result, increased family conflict decreased wealth. But even in this dense darkness, this is a matter of hope that everyone understands that the mind also needs treatment.
Even a few days ago, a large population did not understand the importance of mental illness. But today, the statistics are different. Every human being has a different mentality. Just as their mental illness is different, so is the treatment of that illness. World Mental Health Day 2021 is being celebrated all over the world on the 10th of this month. In view of the importance of mental health in a world full of people with unequal mentality, this year’s theme is “Mental health in an unequal world” selected by Dr Ingrid Daniels with the help of voting from the members of WFMH around the world. At a time when the rich are getting richer, and the poor are sinking into poverty, the impact of global inequality, irrespective of race, religion, caste, civilization, or culture, is huge. The situation of Covid-19 seems to have given a little air to this fire. Becoming aware of people’s mental health has done the opposite. Psychologists are sceptical of how the human mind reacts to this gap of economic inequality and where the situation may go as a result—this time, the theme has been determined keeping in view such a situation.
In 2021, WFMH is moving forward with a great goal of providing mental health care to 75% to 95% of people, rich and poor alike. The goal now is to reach mental health care in low- and middle-income countries with the help of rich countries. This year’s campaign is expected to have a lasting impact on the support of economically disadvantaged people from local to international levels and the development of their mental health, keeping in view the theme of World Mental Health Day 2021.
