World Mental Health Day

As a social worker I work with individuals with Mental Illnesses. When I see someone mentally unstable whether it be from developmental delays, handicaps, depression, alcohol abuse, drug abuse, sexual abuse, various anxieties or Ptsd (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), as a worker I do my best to help these individuals. All illnesses are not obvious some are deeply rooted. Some people are in denial. Some require a number of services and medications. I love the work I do and I wish I could heal everyone I encounter. We all need to ensure that we have a healthy Mental state of mind. This is why it is very important to incorporate "self care" into our daily living and take care of you. De-stressing and proper medical care is always important! Most jobs have Mental Health days, so make use of them! 

World Mental Health Day is observed on 10 October every year, with the overall objective of raising awareness of mental health issues around the world and mobilizing efforts in support of mental health.

The Day provides an opportunity for all stakeholders working on mental health issues to talk about their work, and what more needs to be done to make mental health care a reality for people worldwide.

World Mental Health Day is a day for global mental health education, awareness and advocacy against social stigma. It was first celebrated in 1992 at the initiative of the World Federation for Mental Health, a global mental health organization with members and contacts in more than 150 countries. This day, each October, thousands of supporters come to celebrate this annual awareness program to bring attention to mental illness and its major effects on peoples' life worldwide. In some countries this day is part of an awareness week, such as Mental Health Week in Australia.

Make a Mental Health Promise today…

Close your eyes… Take a breath. It’s time to look after your own mental health and well-being.

Make a promise to yourself ahead of World Mental Health Day on October 10 and post your promise on the promise wall, or your own social media feed.

The promise is yours, and yours alone, and can be anything you think will help to look after your own mental health and well-being.

Because after all, Mental Health begins with Me!

World Mental Health Day 2016

Psychological first aid

When terrible things happen in our communities, we can reach out a helping hand to those who are affected. Perhaps you find yourself at the scene of an accident where people are hurt. Perhaps you are a health-care worker or teacher talking with someone from your community who has just witnessed the violent death of a loved one. Perhaps you are called upon as a staff member in a disaster or volunteer to help asylum seekers who have recently arrived in your community. Learning the basic principles of psychological first aid will help you to provide support to people who are very distressed, and, importantly, to know what not to say.

he theme of this year’s World Mental Health Day, observed on 10 October, covers “psychological first aid”. Efforts in support of the day will focus on basic pragmatic psychological support by people who find themselves in a helping role whether they be health staff, teachers, firemen, community workers, or police officers.

Despite its name, psychological first aid covers both psychological and social support. Just like general health care never consists of physical first aid alone, similarly no mental health care system should consist of psychological first aid alone. Indeed, the investment in psychological first aid is part of a longer-term effort to ensure that anyone in acute distress due to a crisis is able to receive basic support, and that those who need more than psychological first aid will receive additional advanced support from health, mental health and social services.