On World Mental Health Day, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres delivered a powerful message highlighting the significance of mental health as a universal human right. Recognizing the pivotal role of mental well-being in enabling individuals to lead fulfilling lives and contribute to their communities, Guterres called attention to the global prevalence of mental health conditions.
Globally, one in eight people grapples with a mental health condition, with a disproportionate impact on women and young people. Alarmingly, three out of four affected individuals receive insufficient treatment or no care at all, often facing the additional burden of stigma and discrimination.
Secretary-General Guterres emphasized that mental health is not a privilege but a fundamental human right, asserting that it should be an integral component of universal health coverage. Governments, he urged, must provide care that not only fosters recovery but also upholds the rights of individuals. This necessitates bolstering community-based support systems and seamlessly integrating psychological assistance into broader healthcare and social frameworks.
Furthermore, Guterres stressed the importance of addressing root causes, such as poverty, inequality, violence, and discrimination, to cultivate more compassionate and resilient societies. By dismantling barriers and combatting abuses, the global community can encourage individuals to seek the support they need.
In line with the theme for World Mental Health Day 2023, “Mental health is a universal human right,” the day serves as an opportunity for collective action, knowledge enhancement, and awareness-raising to champion and safeguard mental health as an inherent right for all.
The United Nations and its partners continue to work tirelessly to promote and protect mental health, ensuring that everyone can exercise their human rights and access quality mental healthcare. On this day and every day, the global community is urged to unite in building a healthier world where individuals of all backgrounds can thrive.
“Our minds, our rights.”
World Health Organization (WHO) Reiterates Mental Health as a Basic Human Right
On World Mental Health Day 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) joins in emphasizing the theme that “Mental health is a universal human right.” This occasion serves as a rallying point for individuals and communities worldwide to bolster their understanding, raise awareness, and initiate actions that advance and safeguard the mental health of all as an inalienable human right.
Mental health, as WHO underscores, is a fundamental human right, accessible to everyone, irrespective of their identity or location. It encompasses the right to protection against mental health risks, access to available, accessible, acceptable, and high-quality care, as well as the right to liberty, independence, and inclusion within the community.
The importance of mental health cannot be overstated, as it significantly impacts overall health, well-being, interpersonal connections, and livelihoods. Notably, one in eight individuals globally grapples with mental health conditions, including a rising number of adolescents and young people.
Having a mental health condition should never be a justification for depriving anyone of their human rights or excluding them from decisions concerning their own health. However, individuals with mental health conditions continue to endure various human rights violations worldwide. Many face exclusion from community life and discrimination, while others are unable to access the mental healthcare they require, or worse, encounter care that infringes upon their human rights.
WHO reaffirms its commitment to working alongside its partners to ensure the recognition, promotion, and protection of mental health. Urgent action is imperative to ensure that everyone can exercise their human rights and access the quality mental healthcare they deserve. The World Mental Health Day 2023 campaign invites all to explore their basic right to mental health and learn how to safeguard the rights of others.
On this World Mental Health Day, the global community stands united in its resolve to champion mental health as a universal human right, fostering a world where all individuals can lead lives of dignity, resilience, and well-being.
“Our minds, our rights.”
