WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY – 2020

“MENTAL HEALTH FOR ALL

GREATER INVESTMENT- GREATER ACCESS”

World Mental Health Day is observed on 10th October every year. It is an international day for global mental health education, awareness and advocacy against social stigma. This day thousands of supporters come to celebrate this annual awareness program to bring attention to mental illness and its major effects on peoples' lives worldwide. The months of lockdown and loss have had a huge impact on all of us, and prioritising mental health has never been more important than it is now. New mental health problems have emerged as a result of pandemic and, for some, the existing mental health problems have gotten worse. The theme for this year is “Mental health for all, Greater investment - Greater access” which highlights that mental health should be a reality for all – for everyone, everywhere.

A webinar on “Mental Health Considerations for nursing students during COVID-19 pandemic” was organised by the Department of Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing, Manipal College of Nursing, MAHE, Manipal on 9th October 2020 between 4:00 pm & 5:00 pm through the online Microsoft team platform for the Nursing students of Manipal College of Nursing. Dr Blessy Prabha Valsaraj, Assistant Professor in Mental Health Nursing, HOD, Community and mental Health Department, College of Nursing, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, was the resource person for the webinar. She spoke on the mental health concerns, strategies and practice tips. She also stressed on how to be resilient, how to adapt to overcome the crisis faced by the students, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), mindful strategies. A total of 116 participants attended the webinar. All the participants experienced the mindfulness and guided relaxation demonstrated by the speaker. 

Mrs. Savitha, Assistant Professor, and coordinator of the program welcomed the audience and introduced the theme of WMHD – 2020.  Mrs Flavia S Noronha, Lecturer, MCON, delivered the vote of thanks.

Another webinar was conducted on “Mental health considerations for public health care workers during COVID-19 pandemic”, on 10th October, 2020 between 10.30 am & 11.30 am. Dr. P.V. Bhandary, Director & Consultant Psychiatrist Dr. A.V. Baliga Group of Institutions Udupi was the resource person of the webinar. He spoke on mental health concerns, myths about COVID-19, and also about strategies to overcome COVID-19. There were 120 participants who attended the webinar. Mrs. Savitha, Assistant Professor, MCON, co-ordinator of the program welcomed the audience and introduced the theme of WMHD-2020. Mrs. Asha K. Nayak, Assistant Professor, MCON, delivered the vote of thanks.