World Mental Health Day

By Loren Deutsch

In my work as a clinical social worker, I spend a lot of time thinking about mental health, and as an academic coach in medical education, I spend a lot of time discussing mental fitness. It seems that more people are open to talking about their mental health today than ever before. While the long-standing culture of silence around mental health has not disappeared, perhaps it is dissipating.

World Mental Health Day is on October 10, 2025, this year, and it provides an opportunity to push pause in our daily lives and reflect — on ourselves, our neighbors, and the mental health of our communities. Doing so helps promote mental health, and I believe that promoting mental health is vital for a thriving society.

Stats and Facts

World Mental Health Day is an international day dedicated to global mental health education, awareness, and advocacy against social stigma. It was first celebrated in 1992 at the initiative of the World Federation for Mental Health, a global mental health organization with members and contacts in more than 150 countries.

According to the World Health Organization, “Nearly 1 in 7 people in the world lives with a mental disorder.” As of 2024, a quick internet search tells us that there are more than 8 billion people in the world

Mental Health Concepts

This year, World Mental Health Day is today, Friday, October 10, 2025. Given the timing, perhaps today is a good day to question what it means to be mentally healthy.

When we refer to our mental health, we are referring to our feelings, thoughts, and behavior. Mental health affects most aspects of our lives and informs how we connect with others, handle stress, and make decisions, among many other activities. In brief, mental health encompasses emotional, psychological, and social wellness. Yet, with so much connected to mental health, why do so many feel it is difficult to talk about?

Mental Health Determinants

Determinants of mental health include individual, social, and environmental factors. Each affects individual and societal outcomes and can occur at any stage of life. Consider the personal and interpersonal exposure to kindness or violence, peace and war. The variables that protect and strengthen mental health are the very same variables that create personal and societal resilience or risks.

Mental Health Care

As a clinician, I believe in a system-based approach to mental health care. This speaks to educating others about mental health and providing options for prevention and intervention. Prevention involves identifying the determinants of mental health, including risk and resilience. Intervention necessitates care and treatment options that reduce risks and strengthen resilience to address individual and group needs.

References

Test Prep and Mental Health at LAS

Doing What Matters in Times of Stress

Mental Health is a Basic Human Right, World Health Organization

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