Today, October 10th, marks World Mental Health Day — a date that has been on the calendar since 1992, when it was established by the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) and endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO) with a clear goal: to raise awareness in society and combat the stigma associated with psychological disorders.
The perception—and even the approach—to this topic has changed over the years. Less than a decade ago, talking about mental health and psychological (or even psychiatric) problems was difficult and often a reason for mockery, laughter, or criticism.
Thankfully, that has changed. Society has realized that it is also important to care for our health from another angle—one that had long been overlooked. It’s not just about eating well, going to the gym, or staying physically active; embracing, nurturing, understanding, and processing our emotions is vital for the proper functioning of our brain. Well, of the brain and the entire body, really. Why? Because that’s when somatization and other physical responses appear—our body’s way of surprising us daily.
Talking about anxiety, depression, stress, or suicide has never been as open and accepted as it is now. We live in a society that is increasingly aware of the need to care for our mental wellbeing, to learn to manage emotions (younger generations, especially, seem to have internalized this better), to set boundaries, to let go, and ultimately, to handle concepts that, for previous generations, were the result of years of therapy.
This is our main battle—and such an essential one!
However, this is not the time to stop; we must continue striving to achieve true and lasting wellbeing, and genuine self-care across our society. The theoretical part—at least for a large portion of the population—is already internalized. Talking about emotions is a fundamental and much-needed tool.
That’s why it is vital—and we want to emphasize this—to have a strong support network for anyone who may need it. This can mean having friends, family, or significant people to open up to and share how we feel.
Still, while that is important and helpful, the real necessity is to seek help from specialized professionals, such as psychologists and psychiatrists, who can provide us with the tools to manage whatever life may bring.
In fact, here we must open another discussion: access to therapy. Visiting a general practitioner for an initial assessment, then waiting months to finally sit down with a mental health professional, pushes many people toward private healthcare. But here lies the problem:
Not everyone can afford therapy sessions averaging €60–70 every two weeks, depending on personal needs. It becomes a luxury—when it should be a universal necessity.
Mental health is not a game. We must not—and cannot—set it aside.
And you—are you taking care of yourself in this area?
You are not alone!
