Since 1992, the World Federation for Mental Health has designated October 10th as World Mental Health Day, with the aim of raising public awareness of mental health issues, eliminating stigma, and spreading correct knowledge.

Since then, the World Health Organization (WHO) has also co-sponsored the day, making it an official international day.

The World Federation for Mental Health has announced that the theme for World Mental Health Day 2024 will be "Now is the time to prioritize mental health in the workplace."

Why not take this opportunity to learn about World Mental Health Day and think about your own mental health?

What activities will be held on World Mental Health Day?

Led by the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH), events are held around the world every year to raise awareness of mental health, hold public discussions on mental disorders, and encourage investment in prevention and care services.

Under the slogan "Health for All," efforts are being made to reduce the number of people who still have no access to healthcare, which still number in the millions.

What kind of activities are being carried out in Japan?

World Mental Health Day may not be widely known in Japan, but Silver Ribbon, a mental health awareness ribbon movement, has been holding events to coincide with this day since 2011.

When you are constantly busy with work or other things, you may not have time to think about your mental health, and before you know it, your situation may have worsened.

Let's use World Mental Health Day as an opportunity to raise awareness about mental health.

Learn about mental health and mental illness

To deepen your understanding of mental health, it is important to first understand your own mental state, then learn about mental illnesses and recognize the early signs of illness.

If you are experiencing prolonged mental discomfort such as irritability, depression, food not tasting good, or difficulty falling asleep, you should be careful.

The website "Everyone's Mental Health," run by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, introduces how to recognize early signs of mental illness and how to deal with mental illness, and also allows you to find out what illness your symptoms may be.

Self-care to keep your mind healthy

Regular self-care is important to maintain good mental health.

First, try to improve your daily habits. Eating a balanced diet, getting quality sleep, and exercising regularly will help you maintain a healthy mind.

It's also important to take time to relax when you're feeling stressed.

It is recommended to start with something easy to do and something that you feel like doing, such as taking slow, deep breaths, deliberately spacing out and not thinking about anything, taking a long bath using bath salts with your favorite scent, doing some light stretching with yoga, or listening to your favorite music.

Find out about consultation and medical institutions

If your condition worsens despite your efforts at self-care, don't worry or keep it to yourself; find someone you can talk to.

When you're in trouble or in pain, just having someone to listen to you can make you feel better. Talking can also help you see yourself objectively and may help you find a solution.

It's a good idea to find people you can talk to casually on a daily basis, such as friends, family, coworkers, or hobby friends.

However, if your condition persists even after you have been listened to, you should consult a specialist as soon as possible. There are many places you can go for advice, such as specialists such as doctors and counselors, local mental health and welfare centers, public health centers, workplace health management centers, and local government consultation centers, so it is important to research in advance which places are most convenient for you.

Mental health issues are common all over the world!

The fact that it has been designated as an international commemorative day shows that mental health issues are common worldwide.

On World Mental Health Day on October 10th, why not take a moment from your busy daily life and listen to your mind and body?