10 Reasons Why World Mental Health Day Should Be Every Day

World Mental Health Day was on the 10th October this year – and it was a huge success. The mental health charities and campaigners were out in force. Even Ed Miliband used #WMHD to drum up support for awareness (and the Labour party, of course). And now we're back to normality. Mental health has had it's moment and we'll all come together again next year to show our support. I disagree however; here are ten reasons why I think World Mental Health Day should be every day of the year.

1. Headlines like this

Millions of us saw it and yet only thousands said something about it. The Sun and their sensationalist headline declaring that 1,200 people were killed by 'mental patients'. They forgot to mention how many MORE 'mental patients' are killed by the general public every year. It's headlines like this that further stigmatise those with a mental health disorder and causes real distress to many who already find it difficult to leave the house or face the general public.

2. Halloween costumes like this

I wrote an article about this on Huffington Post and the majority of responses I got was 'ah, get over it, it's a costume.' Well you've just proven my point about stigma dear commenter, well done to you. The fact is, saying 'mental patients' are scary is about as offensive as it gets. We're more likely to be the scared rather than the scary.

3. Statistics like this

mentalhealth.org.uk

Not knife crime, war, car accidents; suicide. Someone has got so low that their only option, the only way out, is to take their own life. It's not 'attention seeking' or whatever other words some people may like to use, it's heartbreaking. It is estimated that 1 million people take their own life each year, worldwide.

4. Heartbreaking stories like this

dailymail.co.uk

Today I saw a story about a 9 year old boy who took his own life, due to being bullied at school. NINE YEARS OLD. He hadn't even hit double figures yet, barely experienced anything life has to offer and now he is gone. With better mental health awareness things like this can be prevented, treated and helped. And this boy's parents may not have lost their son.

5. Because you know someone with a mental health disorder

time-to-change.org.uk

1 in 4 people will experience a mental health disorder at some point in their life. That means it could be a friend, a family member or a work/school colleague or even yourself. You may have no idea that someone you know is suffering. BUT if mental health wasn't so taboo then you would know and maybe, just maybe, you could be there to help them through it.

6. Because you wouldn't judge someone for having a broken leg

buzzfeed.com

Would you be scared of someone with diabetes? Would you talk behind a cancer patients back? Would you discriminate someone with a broken leg? Doubtful. It's just the same as any of the above, it is just not as visible as them.

7. Because of amazing organisations like these

buzzfeed.com

There are many of them out there, all that do an incredible job of providing support, raising awareness and connecting people who have similar minds. Without these organisations so many people would be lost, hopeless and even further stigmatised.

8. Because of incredible people like this

gogetfunding.com / Via gogetfunding.com

What do you do if your girlfriend has a mental health disorder and you're scared of heights? You do a 300ft bungee jump to raise awareness and funds, of course! Rebecca & Ben are raising funds to help provide support for those with a mental health disorder AND raise awareness at the same time. Even if Ben is absolutely petrified of heights.

9. Because it's a great excuse for events like this

mindslikeours.co.uk / Via mindslikeours.co.uk

Think cakes, fancy biscuits, pretty tea pots, flamboyant table dressings and some good old British bunting! Oh and a whole load of awareness raised. There are hundreds of events going on around the World, all with the same goal: Raise awareness, raise funds and meet plenty of new friends.

10. And finally, because it's about time!

We don't live in the dark ages. People aren't having parts of their brain removed in lobotomies, because there is no proper psychiatric help or diagnosis. We don't live in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest” times. Mental health disorders haven't suddenly become more common, they're just becoming more talked about. If we keep pushing then it will be even more common to talk about our health problems, get help and stop feeling so ashamed because we might be seen as 'mental'. It's way overdue.