Let’s take a few minutes to think about mental health on this day designated, World Mental Health Day. Even before the pandemic affected billions of people around the world, a large number of people have been affected by mental disorders. Consider a few sobering facts:
- Nearly 1 billion people are living with a mental disorder
- Every year, 3 million people die from alcohol abuse
- Every 40 seconds, one person dies by suicide.
Now, consider that few people around the world have access to quality mental health services.
That is why, starting this year, the World Mental Health Organization, WHO, in coordination with partner organizations, United for Global Mental Health and the World Federation for Mental Health, is calling for a massive scale-up in investment in mental health.
“World Mental Health Day is an opportunity for the world to come together and begin redressing the historic neglect of mental health. We are already seeing the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on people’s mental well-being, and this is just the beginning. Unless we make serious commitments to scale up investment in mental health right now, the health, social and economic consequences will be far-reaching.”
The World Mental Health Day campaign will offer opportunities, primarily online given the continuing pandemic, for all of us to do something life-affirming. Go here to learn more.
At OPL, we encourage you to nurture your own mental health, too. Here are our recommended actions to take care of yourself:
- Get connected with nature – spend some time outdoors and enjoy nature. It will help you feel happy and healthy. And even better, it can reduce blood pressure, lower stress, lift depression, and improve energy.
- Two suggested reads: Forest Bathing by Dr. Qing Li and Blue Mind by Wallace J. Nichols
- Design your most joyous life – Take time to think about what brings you joy and develop an action plan to get there. Living the life of your dreams is within your reach.
- Suggested read: Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett and Dale Evans.
- Live and eat in harmony with the plane – Now that you are making better use of your kitchen than ever before, think about the food you are eating and where it comes from. How you fuel and nurture your body and knowing where it comes from has a direct impact on how you feel and function.
- Suggested reads: Hope’s Edge by Frances Moore Laffe and Anna Laffe, and Rebel Chef by Dominique Crenn
- Try out our delicious veggie-forward recipes to begin your journey in your kitchen
Take care of you, first. Then, together we can take care of the world.
