On October 10th of each year, World Mental Health Day is celebrated. This year’s theme is ‘Young People and Mental Health in A Changing World’.
World Mental Health Day allows stakeholders to come together and decide on ways to mitigate the effects of mental health illnesses. The topic has been gaining traction recently as there has been an influx of articles in local publications around youth mental health such as Dr Christopher Tufton | Time To Commit To Mental Health, Mental Meltdown: Youth Under Siege, and J’cans Don’t Kill Themselves’ – Hickling Downplays U-Report Poll In Which More Than 500 Jamaican Youths Said That They Have Considered Suicide.
Here is an excerpt from the World Health Organization’s website explaining why the theme was chosen for this year:
“Adolescence and the early years of adulthood are a time of life when many changes occur, for example changing schools, leaving home, and starting university or a new job. For many, these are exciting times. They can also be times of stress and apprehension however. In some cases, if not recognized and managed, these feelings can lead to mental illness. The expanding use of online technologies, while undoubtedly bringing many benefits, can also bring additional pressures, as connectivity to virtual networks at any time of the day and night grows. Many adolescents are also living in areas affected by humanitarian emergencies such as conflicts, natural disasters and epidemics. Young people living in situations such as these are particularly vulnerable to mental distress and illness.”
Read more about Mental Health here: https://www.moh.gov.jm/divisions-agencies/divisions/mental-health-unit/