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World Mental Health Day 2025
The annual commemoration of the World Mental Health Day on the 10th of October every year serves as a powerful reminder that there is no health without mental health. This year’s theme for World Mental Health Day (2025) is “Access to Services – Mental Health in Catastrophes and Emergencies”. The focus therefore for this year’s mental health awareness campaign is on the urgent need to support the mental health and psychosocial needs of people affected by humanitarian emergencies.
The theme for this year’s commemoration could not have been more apt considering the global crisis posed by climate change, wars, political unrest and violent suppression of dissent in various regions of the world. Of recent several countries especially in Asia have experienced earthquakes , typhoons and landslides that have killed several people and displaced thousands of families, rendering them homeless. This year’s World Mental Health Day theme therefore serves both as a warning and a wake-up call to address the humanitarian fallouts of crisis irrespective of its nature, because when calamity strikes, be it a war, flood, epidemic, or political upheaval we often see the damage externally which is only half the story; whereas the humanitarian consequences are of most concern.
The spate of migration, especially from Africa to Europe in search of better opportunities with the attendant dangers in braving the harsh desert conditions and the oceans, has reached an alarming proportion in recent times. Migrants and refugees face multiple stressors throughout their journey – from conflict and displacement to dangerous journeys and integration challenges in host countries. By the end of 2024, over 123 million people were forcibly displaced worldwide. A staggering 71% of them are hosted in low- and middle-income countries, where health-care systems are already under strain and access to mental health services is extremely limited.
Crises such as natural disasters, conflicts, and public health emergencies can be devastating, causing emotional, causing one in five individuals exposed to such conditions to experience mental health condition ranging from anxiety to depression. It is therefore of utmost importance and necessity to support the mental well-being of individuals during such crises. Such efforts can help to save lives, engenders hope and gives people the strength to cope, the space to heal and to recover and rebuild not only as individuals but as communities.
It has become imperative that everyone, including government officials, health and social care providers, school staff and community groups to come together in solidarity to support those who are facing humanitarian challenges because of catastrophes or disasters. By working hand in hand both at the global, regional, national, sub-national or community levels we can ensure the most vulnerable segments of the population have access to the support systems they need such as food and shelter while safeguarding the well-being of those who did not experience the crisis.
During crises, nearly everyone experiences distress and social disruption. Homes are lost, families are separated, and communities are fractured. While one in five people may have a mental health condition, nearly everyone affected experiences emotional distress and disrupted community ties. These impacts often remain long after physical safety is restored, undermining recovery and resilience. People with significant mental health conditions must not be left without care and support. Continuity of care is a priority during and following any emergency.
By investing in evidence and community-based interventions, the global community can address immediate mental health needs, foster long-term recovery, and empower people and communities to rebuild their lives and thrive.
On this World Mental Health Day, we al need to intensify our efforts to create a world where irrespective of our location, mental health is valued, protected, and accessible for all, especially in the face of adversity. We at Medela-Nigeria join the global community in showing empathy and solidarity with those who ae currently facing one form of humanitarian crisis or the other and join the clarion call for concerted strategies in responding to these humanitarian challenges as they arise. Together we can bring succour to those experiencing mental distress because of their displacement from their homes or loss of their livelihoods.
At Medela-Nigeria we have an online Mental Health Promotion Program that is intended to help people facing mental health challenges cope with these challenges and forge ahead with resilience and hope.
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