See beyond the stigma and make mental health more visible.
World Mental Health Day – 10 October – is a day for global mental health education, awareness and advocacy. An initiative of the World Federation for Mental Health to raise public awareness of mental health issues worldwide. 1 in 5 Australians are affected by mental illness, yet many don’t seek help because of stigma. We can all do something to help shed a more positive light on mental health.
Stigma around mental illness due to misunderstanding or prejudice remains an issue in Australia, delaying or preventing people from wanting or feeling able to seek help, and impacting adversely on their lives.
Misconceptions and misrepresentations about those experiencing mental illness are damaging to people’s lives. They may include references to people affected as being ‘scary’, ‘comical’, ‘incompetent’, ‘weak’ or ‘hopeless’ and can appear anywhere, from in the media and the arts to conversations we have at work, school or home.
Mental Health Australia leads the World Mental Health Day campaign in Australia. The organisation has a focus on ensuring the whole community recognises the part we all play in creating a mentally healthy society.
