For Immediate Release
Thursday, May 20, 2021 More than 1,300+ organisations, brands, government agencies and cultural leaders join together for the first-ever Mental Health Action Day
The largest cross-sector effort to shift from mental health awareness to mental health action organised in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, ongoing trauma of systemic racism
Learn more at www.MentalHealthActionDay.org
COLOMBO, SRI LANKA – Today, more than 1,300 organisations, brands, government agencies and cultural leaders including Consumer Action Network Mental Health Lanka (CAN MH Lanka) and its partner organizations will participate in the inaugural Mental Health Action Day to drive the conversation from mental health awareness to mental health action. Convened by MTV Entertainment Group, Mental Health Action Day is an open-source movement aimed at motivating people to take action to get mental health support — whether for themselves, their loved ones or for everyone by advocating for systemic changes for mental health access and equity.
Mental Health Action Day comes at a critical time. The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a disproportionate toll on the mental health and well-being of women, men, young people, children and marginalised communities. Studies have found:
- Four in 10 adults have reported symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder, compared to 1 in 10 before the pandemic.
- Fifty-six per cent of young adults ages 18-24 reported symptoms of anxiety and/or depression during the pandemic.
- 48% of Black people reported symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder during the pandemic versus 42% of all adults and 40.9% of white people.
Disadvantaged communities, who have experienced disparate impacts of COVID-19 and the ongoing economic and social trauma, are also facing greater mental health challenges than ever before but continue to face challenges accessing mental health care.
The cross-sector collaboration calling attention to the great need for support and action to address mental health in the same way in which we treat physical health needs is groundbreaking. From media and tech companies to nonprofits, consumer brands, government agencies and cultural leaders, the actions today are only the beginning. Coalition partners will host a series of activations ranging from public events featuring experts and activists to employee engagement activities, all with the goal of encouraging and empowering people to take an initial action, whether for themselves or others, to support their mental health needs.
CAN MH Lanka and its partners also kicking off a series of actions, including community awareness campaign, training programmes, empowerment of persons with mental health problems and advocacy for eradicating stigma and discrimination.
The statement made by CAN MH Lanka and its partners attached below.
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About Mental Health Action DayMental Health Action Day is an open-source movement of brands, organisations, government agencies, and cultural leaders to drive culture from mental health awareness to mental health action. The first Mental Health Action Day will take place on May 20, 2021, with a mission to encourage and empower people to take their first actions on mental health -- whether for themselves, for their loved ones or for their communities, because mental health is health.
Learn more at MentalHealthIsHealth.us
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