The theme of ‘Mental Health in an Unequal World’ for the World Mental Health Day 2021 on October 10 underlines the pressing need to focus sufficiently on health beyond the physical in a sustained way in a world still struggling to fight the Coronavirus. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased inequalities in human development, including dealing a double whammy to mental health by causing more incidence of mental disorders and disrupting already limited mental health services.

While health is complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease, mental health is a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively, and make a contribution to the community, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

The details of the events are as follows:

A webinar on “Mental Health in an Unequal world for the members of RSB Mahila Vedike was organized by the Department of Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing, Manipal College of Nursing, MAHE, Manipal in association with RSB Mahila Vedike, Manipal on 6thth October 2021 through the online Google Meet. The webinar was held between 6 pm to 7 pm and more than 60 participants attended this webinar. Mrs Arabhi Rao, Psychologist and Counsellor, from Karkala, was the resource person for the webinar. Mrs Arabhi Rao spoke on mental health problems, early identification, and prevention. During her talk, she stressed on mental health problems in women and strategies to overcome them.

Mrs. Mohini N Nayak, President, RSB Mahila Vedike, Manipal welcomed the audience. Mrs Savitha Prabhu, Assistant Professor, and coordinator of the program introduced the theme of WMHD, 2021.

Mrs Bharathi Nayak, Assistant Professor, Manipal School of Nursing and a member of RSB Mahila Vedike, Manipal introduced the speaker. Vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. Vidya Nayak, Secretary, RSB Mahila Vedike, Manipal.

Kasturba Hospital, Manipal

Various activities were organized at the Psychiatric ward on 8th October 2021 as a part of World Mental Health Day, 2021. The programme started with conducting games for the SM7 ward inmates. A formal program was conducted by welcoming the chief guest and the audience by Sr. Reena TY, 2nd Year MSc Psychiatric nursing speciality student. Dr Ravindra Munoli, Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Kasturba Hospital, Manipal was the chief guest for the official program. He addressed the patients and caregivers and talked about the importance of mental health and given awareness regarding the facilities available in hospitals and Communities. In his speech, he has discussed the day’s theme by highlighting unequal access to mental health care across the world. Prizes were distributed to the winners of the games. The program was concluded with a vote of thanks by Ms Preejana Sharma, 2nd year MSc psychiatric nursing speciality student.