Mental Health: A universal Human Right in challenging times
3-min read
On this World Mental Health Day, the theme resonates more profoundly than ever before: Mental Health is a universal human right. In the face of unprecedented challenges, we must reaffirm our commitment to this fundamental truth. This year's theme underscores the importance of equity in mental health support, and we’re highlighting peer support as one of the vital drivers for change.
In these challenging times, where daily life stressors are weighing heavily on many, maintaining positive mental health is an even greater challenge. One area that can help to ensure equitable access to mental health support and care, is through peer support.
The universal right to mental health
Mental health is not a luxury; it’s a basic human right. Just as every person has the right to clean water, nourishing food, and safe shelter, they also have the right to positive mental health. Mental health is not just the absence of illness but a state of overall well-being, where people can cope with life's challenges and contribute to their communities.
Challenging daily life stressors
In recent times, the stresses of daily life have been amplified for many. The COVID-19 pandemic, economic uncertainties, cost-of-living crisis, social isolation, and political unrest have taken a toll on people's mental health. The very fabric of our daily lives has been disrupted, leading to heightened anxiety, depression, and feelings of isolation.
These extraordinary stressors underscore the urgency of recognising mental health as a universal human right. Now, more than ever, we must strive for equitable access to mental health resources and support for everyone, irrespective of their background, identity, abilities, economic status, or social standing.
Peer Support: A catalyst for equity
One powerful way to drive equity in the mental health space is through peer support. Peer support involves people with their own personal experience of mental health challenges offering understanding, support, hope and encouragement to others facing similar struggles. Here's why peer support is essential:
Shared experiences: Peers can relate to each other's experiences on a profound level. This shared understanding helps build trust and encourages open conversations about struggles people are having and the mental health challenges they are experiencing.
Reducing stigma: When people with lived experience openly discuss their mental health journeys, it helps break down stigma and normalises conversations about mental health.
Practical support: Peer support offers a space to discuss coping strategies and solutions based on real-life experiences. These insights can be invaluable.
Empowerment and hope: Peer support empowers individuals to take control of their mental health. Hearing stories of how people found their way out of darkness from peers can instil hope and motivate others to seek support or make a change.
Community and belonging: Peer support creates a sense of community and belonging, reminding people that they are not alone in their struggles.
A commitment to equity
As we mark World Mental Health Day, let's strengthen our commitment to mental health as a universal human right. This commitment involves:
Advocacy for policy changes: Advocate for policies that prioritise mental health care, reduce disparities in access to treatment, and eliminate discrimination.
Education and awareness: Promote education about mental health, including the importance of peer support, in schools, workplaces, and communities to foster understanding and acceptance.
Open conversations: Create safe spaces where people can openly discuss their mental health concerns without judgement, removing the stigma associated with seeking help.
Investment in peer support: Governments, organisations, and communities should invest in and promote peer support, recognising the vital role it plays in mental health equity.
A call to action
Mental health is a universal human right, and in these challenging times, it's a right that must be upheld and protected more than ever.
Let’s unite in the fight for mental health equity, embracing the power of peer support to ensure that every person, regardless of who they are and their circumstances, can access the mental health support they deserve. It takes commitment and focus, but through this, together, we can make mental health a universal reality for all.
At Habitus, we have developed and designed successful peer support and community programmes for various charities, health organisations and businesses both in the UK and internationally.
We are accomplished in peer research, co-production, action-based and anti-oppressive research and evaluation. We are experts in helping organisations to engage wider community participation in their projects so that their work is more inclusive and impactful. Through this approach we are dedicated to increasing lived experience leadership.
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