World Mental Health Day (October 10) is dedicated to global mental health awareness, education, and advocacy against social stigma. In 1992, it was first celebrated by Deputy Secretary General Richard Hunter at the initiative of the World Federation for Mental Health, a global mental health organization with members and contacts including more than 150 countries. Every year on October 10, thousands of supporters gather together for celebrating this annual awareness program to bring attention to mental issues and its major effects on people's life worldwide. World Mental Health Day is part of an awareness week in some countries.
Up until 1994, this day had no specific theme other than promoting mental health advocacy and educating the public. For the first time in 1994, World Mental Health Day was celebrated with a theme suggested by the Secretary-General Eugene Brody; "Improving the Quality of Mental Health Services throughout the World”. Afterwards, the Federation has chosen a theme to be promoted in its planning kit each year. This year (2019), "Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention" was chosen as the theme. This day is supported by World Health Organization (WHO) through its strong relationships with the ministries of health and civil society organizations across the globe for raising awareness on mental health problems.
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