Celebrate World Mental Health Day 2016 with MHIN

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Posted: 7th October 2016

Today is World Mental Health Day 2016 and this year’s theme, chosen by the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH), is ‘Dignity in mental health – psychological and mental health first aid for all’.

This annual event is a day for supporters to raise awareness and advocate on mental health issues worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a flyer and presentation on ‘Psychological First Aid For All’ to mark the occasion. This year’s theme is significant because it provides us with the skills and resources to deal with psychological distress whenever and wherever it occurs.

Many members of the Mental Health Innovation Network (MHIN) have already made tremendous progress in incorporating a psychological or mental health first aid component into their portfolio of work. Some have even developed new resources to share what they've learned along the way. You can read more below and check out the interactive infographic we've created in honor of World Mental Health Day, to celebrate successful examples from the MHIN community.

Today is also special because it marks the launch of the new-and-improved mhGAP Intervention Guide (mhGAP-IG), version 2.0. The original mhGAP-IG 1.0 has already been used in 29 different innovations on MHIN, and we're excited to see what the future has in store. Be sure to follow the MHIN team on Twitter today for live updates from the annual WHO mhGAP forum in Geneva, where the new guide will finally be unveiled #worldmentalhealthday #WMHD2016 #mentalhealth. You can also tune in to watch WHO Live on Facebook.

Learn more about innovation in mental health and psychological first aid around the world:

Asia and the Middle East

1.mhGAP Implementation in Kashmir: reducing the treatment gap through implementation of a mental health program in the Ganderbal District of Kashmir.

2.mh2: Mobile Health for Mental Health: leveraging mobile technology and digital mapping to improve mental healthcare delivery in rural areas of India.

3.Integration of mental health and psychosocial support services into primary healthcare in the Middle East: strengthening mental health and psychosocial services through integration into primary healthcare (PHC) and community services.

4.Humanitarian crisis and mental health reform in Lebanon: Reforming the mental health system in Lebanon and scaling up evidence-based services.

Africa

1.Facilitating MHPSS in the Ebola Virus Disease Crisis: Providing decentralized MHPSS services during the EVD outbreak.

2.Using mobile mental health clinics to expand access to services in post conflict rural areas: Increasing access to mental health services in rural post conflict communities of Soroti District, Uganda.

Worldwide

1.Mental Health First Aid: Equipping members of the public with knowledge to assist someone experiencing a mental health problem.

Hear from the innovators

Blogs

Q&A's

Interactive Q&A session with Consultant Psychiatrist Dr. Peter Hughes on the psychosocial effects of Ebola. Dr. Hughes recently conducted a WHO mission to Sierra Leone to develop a strategy around the psychosocial and mental health response to Ebola in Sierra Leone. The result was a plan to use psychological first aid to support survivors and to provide training to staff in basic interventions.

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