World Mental Health Day 2023 on Tuesday 10 October is a day that empowers and inspires all of us to talk about and raise awareness of mental health issues around the world. It also celebrates the 75th anniversary of the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) and World Mental Health Day 2023.

This year, the theme is: ‘Mental Health is a Universal Human Right’. No matter who or where someone is in the world, everyone has a right to the highest attainable standard of mental health, including:

• the right to be protected from mental health risks

• the right to available, accessible, acceptable, and good-quality care

• the right to liberty, independence and inclusion in the community.

In this article, you’ll learn more about this important global campaign and how you can strengthen the efforts of advocacy in the mental health space. 

Mental health in Australia

As humans, good mental health is vital to our overall health and wellbeing. Yet an eye-watering 1 in 8 people globally are living with mental health conditions.

Even though advocacy for mental health has come a long way in recent years, there’s still a lot more to be done, Australian research shows that:

• Of Australians aged 16–85, an estimated 44 per cent of the population has experienced a mental disorder at some time in their life. 

• More specifically, 1 in 6 (17 per cent, or 3.3 million) Australians are affected by anxiety disorder. 

World Mental Health Day mission

The mission of World Mental Health Day, by the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH), is to equip everyone around the world with resources about the basic right to mental health, as well as how to protect the rights of others.

Campaign theme

Mental Health is a Universal Human Right

Hashtag

#WorldMentalHealthDay

More information

WMHD information from the World Federation of Mental Health

How you can get involved in World Mental Health Day

Share your message 

One of the simplest yet most impactful ways to participate is by sharing your thoughts and experiences related to mental health.
Head to the WFMH website for steps on how to do this.

Express through art

Use words, images, drawings, or any desired medium to convey your thoughts about the theme — 'Mental Health is a Universal Human Right’.

Explore the theme

Build awareness about mental health and share what you find with others.

Reach out 

Seeking help is a sign of strength, and together, we can work towards a world where mental health is truly recognised as a universal human right.

If you need some support, book an appointment with The Anxiety Clinic now.