World Mental Health Day
World Mental Health Day
07 October 2025
World Mental Health Day is observed annually on October 10. Established in 1992 with the support of WHO and the World Federation for Mental Health, the day has become an annual event.
According to the WHO definition, "Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." Thus, mental health is an integral part and the most important component of human health.
Mental health is not only the absence of mental disorders and disabilities, but also a state of well-being in which a person realizes his or her abilities, can withstand normal life stresses, work productively, and be useful to society. In this positive sense, mental health is the foundation of human well-being and the effective functioning of society. Mental health is closely related to physical health.
Mental health disorders are a collective term that includes mental disorders, various types of psychosocial disabilities, and other mental pathological conditions associated with significant distress, functional impairment, or risk of self-harm.
According to WHO, nearly one billion people worldwide suffer from mental disorders, 14% of whom are teenagers. More than one percent of all deaths worldwide are related to suicides, which are a consequence of a severe mental condition. Almost 60% of all suicides are committed by people under 50 years of age.
Mental disorders lead to increased unemployment, disability, and premature mortality. People with severe mental illness die on average 10–20 years earlier than the rest of the world’s population. Death occurs mainly due to the development of preventable somatic diseases.
The relevance of this problem for our country is evidenced by the fact that the problem of mental health is reflected in the State Program "Health of the People and Demographic Security" for 2021-2025. According to subprogram 3 "Prevention and Overcoming of Drunkenness and Alcoholism, Protection of Mental Health", important tasks facing government bodies are the development of a system of medical and social rehabilitation of persons who have been using psychoactive substances for a long time, as well as the implementation of a set of measures to maintain and strengthen the mental health of the population, reduce the level of suicides, including the provision of timely and high-quality assistance to persons in crisis and stressful situations, including minors.
Throughout our lives, numerous individual, social, and structural determinants can interact to protect or undermine our mental health and alter our position on the mental health continuum.
Various individual psychological and biological factors, such as emotional skills, substance use, and genetics, may make a person more susceptible to mental health problems.
Exposure to adverse social, economic, geopolitical and environmental circumstances, including poverty, violence, inequality and adverse social conditions, also increases the risk of mental disorders.
Risk factors can occur at all stages of life, but those that occur during critical periods of human development, especially early childhood, have a particularly strong negative impact. For example, harsh parenting and physical punishment are known to undermine children's mental health, and problems in the school community are a major risk factor for the development of mental health disorders.
Similarly, protective factors also arise throughout a person’s life and contribute to the strengthening of mental resilience. These factors include our individual social and emotional skills and qualities, as well as experiences of positive social interactions, level of education, decent work, living in comfortable and safe conditions, and much more.
Risk and protective factors can have different impacts. Local threats increase risk for individuals, families, and communities. Global threats such as economic downturns, disease outbreaks, humanitarian emergencies, displacement, and the worsening climate crisis increase risk for entire populations.
The impact of any single risk or protective factor is difficult to predict. Most people do not develop a mental disorder when exposed to any one risk factor, while some individuals may develop mental disorders even in the absence of known risk factors. However, complex, interacting determinants can either enhance or undermine mental health.
As mentioned above, the physical and mental state of a person are closely interconnected. In this regard, there are general recommendations for maintaining physical and mental health. The main ones are:
- Sports and proper nutrition. A balanced diet and moderate physical activity are the key to healthy blood vessels, a strong nervous system and a strong immune system.
- Deep sleep of at least 7-8 hours. Sleep promotes rapid recovery of the body and, accordingly, greater resistance to stressful situations.
- Hobbies, passions according to taste. It is generally accepted that doing something you love makes the body release "happiness hormones".
- Constant intellectual development, communication with interesting and friendly people. A positively minded person exchanges “good” energy with others, thereby supporting himself and others.
- The ability and opportunity to speak out. It is harmful to hide negative emotions and withdraw into yourself. Resentments accumulated over the years, omissions, misunderstandings and stress can result in serious mental disorders, the consequences of which will become irreversible and sometimes fatal.
Following these simple recommendations will help you maintain and strengthen your physical and mental health. Remember that you are the most valuable thing you have. Take care of and love yourself.
