On World Mental Health Day, observed on October 10th, UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized the crucial role of mental health in leading fulfilling lives and contributing to communities. Globally, one in eight people lives with a mental health condition, with women and young people disproportionately affected, often facing stigma and discrimination.
In alignment with this message, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN human rights office (OHCHR) jointly released guidance titled “Mental health, human rights and legislation: guidance and practice.” This guidance aims to assist countries in reforming legislation to end human rights violations and enhance access to quality mental health care.
Key principles of this new approach include upholding individuals’ dignity and empowering them to lead healthy lives. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, stressed the need to transform mental health services through a rights-based approach. Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, echoed this ambition.
Highlighting the need for substantial change, Tlaleng Mofokeng, the Special Rapporteur on the right to health, called for innovative mental health policy models focusing on holistic support and addressing care inequalities. Mofokeng also underscored that mental health problems can result from discrimination, social exclusion, marginalization, criminalization, and exploitation, affecting individuals due to factors such as gender identity, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, class position, migration status, or disability.
World Mental Health Day serves as an opportunity for individuals and communities to unite under the theme “Mental health is a universal human right” to enhance understanding, raise awareness, and drive actions that safeguard and promote mental health as a fundamental human right.
