People around the world share many of the same problems and concerns. In the 21st century, that includes a need for a greater understanding of mental illness. It also includes a need for greater access to mental health treatment. In acknowledgment of these modern realities, World Mental Health Day is celebrated every year on October 10th.
World Mental Health Day is an annual focus at Treatment Connection. That’s because it falls in line with our mission of improving access to effective mental health care. Whether you live in the U.S., you can use our online portal to seek out local treatment providers. We also serve as a convenient educational resource for a vast array of mental health-related topics.
Details of World Mental Health Day
World Mental Health Day is the joint effort of two international organizations. The first of these groups, the World Health Organization, provides the core resources for the event. The second, the World Federation for Mental Health, takes responsibility for choosing the day’s annual themes.
In America, World Mental Health Day is coordinated with other efforts to increase mental health awareness. It occurs just after the close of Mental Illness Awareness Week. The somewhat different focuses of these back-to-back events help them cover as many mental health-related issues as possible.
The Importance of Increasing Mental Health Awareness
In the U.S. alone, more than 50 million people are affected by some form of mental illness. In descending order, the most common illnesses are:
- Anxiety disorders
- Major depression and other depressive disorders
- Posttraumatic stress disorder, or PTSD
- Dual diagnosis, i.e., combined mental health and substance problems
- Bipolar disorder
These conditions are not limited to one segment of the population. Instead, they affect:
- Men
- Women
- Teenagers and younger children
- All racial/ethnic groups
- People of every sexual orientation
- Every socio-economic category
But despite the common nature of mental health issues, society still often stigmatizes them. That stigma has some major harmful effects. First, it encourages the perception of mental illness as a rarity instead of a frequent fact of life. It also discourages at least some people from getting the help they need.
In stark contrast, World Mental Health Day and other mental health awareness events de-stigmatize mental illness. This is essential for changing entrenched social attitudes. It’s also essential for encouraging more people to seek effective mental health treatment.
Mental Health Treatment in Your Area
The chances are high that you’ll find mental health treatment resources in your area. These resources come in a wide range of shapes and forms. For example, you may find local individual practitioners. You may also have access to larger private facilities. In addition, it’s common to get help through a local governmental agency.
As a rule, heavily populated areas provide more options for treatment than sparsely populated areas. If you live in a more rural setting, you may sometimes need to travel to find the help you need. No matter where you live, help from trustworthy resources can make it easier to find effective programs.
Turn to Treatment Connection for Local Mental Health Treatment Resources
At Treatment Connection, we understand the need for high-quality mental health resources. On World Mental Health Day and throughout the year, we make finding resources in your area easy. You can use them in multiple ways. For example, you can do a comprehensive search for providers in your zip code. You can also search for providers who specialize in the treatment of a particular mental illness.
We feature the same detailed resources for people who need help with substance problems. In addition, our educational resources will help you learn more about mental health and substance-related issues. Take advantage of these convenient services today.
