Mental health disorders account for 14% of diseases around the world. Many of these cases occur in low-income countries where access to treatment is limited. To spread awareness about mental health issues and advocate treatment services, World Mental Health Day was created. This year it falls on October 10th and is themed “Depression: A Global Crisis.” This day is all about speaking out, standing up, and raising funds to help prevent and treat mental health disorders.
The World Health Organization, WHO, has developed an action plan to increase services for mental, neurobiological, and substance use disorders called the Mental Health Gap Action Programme. This program targets countries with lower incomes that cannot properly aid patients. The program will help provide proper care, assistance, and medication to millions of individuals in hopes that they can eventually return to a normal lifestyle.
According to World Mental Health Day’s Education Campaign, depression is defined as “a common mental disorder that presents with depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure, decreased energy, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, and poor concentration.” This year’s theme brings to light a very serious, global disease that affects 350 million people. In a survey conducted among 17 countries, also found in the Education Campaign, 1 in 20 people have had an episode of depression.
Pasadena Villa’s Smoky Mountain Lodge is an adult intensive psychiatric residential treatment center for clients with serious mental illnesses. We also provide other individualized therapy programs, step-down residential programs, and less intensive mental health services, such as Community Residential Homes, Supportive Housing, Day Treatment Programs and Life Skills training. Pasadena Villa’s Outpatient Center in Raleigh, North Carolina offers partial hospitalization (PHP) and an intensive outpatient program (PHP). If you or someone you know may need mental health services, please complete our contact form or call us at 407-215-2519 for more information.
Reference:
- www.who.int/mental_health/mhgap/en/
- www.who.int/mediacentre/events/official_days/en/
