UN Secretary-General António Guterres has highlighted a stark reality, revealing that three out of every four people grappling with a mental health condition receive insufficient or no treatment at all. In a call to action on Monday, Guterres implored nations to “dismantle the obstacles preventing individuals from seeking assistance.”
His message, released on the eve of World Mental Health Day, which falls on October 10, emphasizes the pivotal role mental health plays in enabling individuals to lead fulfilling lives and make positive contributions to their communities.
Globally, one in eight people contends with a mental health condition, with women and young people disproportionately affected. This group often grapples with stigma and discrimination, further compounding their challenges.
In an echoing show of support, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) jointly unveiled comprehensive guidance on mental health, human rights, and legislation. Their guidance document, titled “Mental Health, Human Rights, and Legislation: Guidance and Practice,” aspires to aid countries in reforming their legislation to eradicate human rights abuses and enhance access to high-quality mental health care.
This new approach is anchored in principles that prioritize individuals’ dignity and empower them to lead robust and healthy lives, according to Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, emphasized that the overarching goal is to reshape mental health services by adopting a rights-based approach.
Underlining the urgency of transformation, Tlaleng Mofokeng, the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health, called for innovative models of mental health policy that focus on holistic support and address inequalities in care.
While some individuals may have a genetic predisposition to mental health issues, Mofokeng underscored that persecution based on factors such as gender identity, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, socioeconomic status, migration status, or disability profoundly affects mental health. Such discrimination leads to social exclusion, marginalization, criminalization, and exploitation, resulting in detrimental impacts on mental well-being.
World Mental Health Day serves as a platform for individuals and communities to unite around the theme, “Mental Health is a Universal Human Right.” The day encourages the enhancement of knowledge, awareness, and actions aimed at promoting and safeguarding everyone’s mental health as an inherent human right.
