October 10th is World Mental Health Day
October 10 is World Mental Health Day, a day to recognize the importance of mental health for everyone, regardless of circumstance or social status. The theme for this year’s World Mental Health Day is “Access to Services – Mental Health in Catastrophes and Emergencies”.
In times of emergency – whether natural disasters, conflicts or mass disabling events –the immediate attention usually focuses on physical safety. But the impact on mental health can be profound and long-lasting.
Protecting our mental health during crisis requires preparation. Both personally and as a society, we organize emergency responses of all kinds in anticipation of possible disaster. Just as we create plans for emergencies in advance for food, shelter and logistics, we also need to plan for the inevitable mental-health challenges that will follow.
How do we set the groundwork for mental health in difficult times? Talking about mental health is one of the best ways to prepare ourselves and our communities for difficult times, but starting that conversation isn’t always easy.
That’s why the JLP offers opportunities for employees and managers to find common ground to open the conversation around mental health. Both the JLP’s in-person workshop, Mental Health in the Workplace and virtual discussion, Mental Health: Let’s Talk! offers learning opportunities to give participants tools to talk openly, reduce stigma and create plans that support resilience.
Photo by Keegan Houser on Unsplash.com