World Health Day is April 7. To mark the annual event, the World Health Organization (WHO) has released new estimates indicating that depression is the leading cause of poor health and disability worldwide.
Among other startling figures associated with the disease, WHO estimates that more than 300 million people are living with depression. Read the new WHO statistics.
WHO has embarked on a year-long campaign called, “Depression: let’s talk.” The overall goal of the campaign is that more people with depression, everywhere in the world, both seek and get help.
CMHA Ontario supports the WHO initiative, reminding the public that stigma and discrimination continue to prevent people from seeking help.
What can you do to stop stigma and discrimination?
Use the STOP criteria to recognize attitudes and actions that support the stigma of mental health conditions. It’s easy, just ask yourself if what you hear:
- Stereotypes people with mental health conditions (that is, assumes they are all alike rather than individuals)?
- Trivializes or belittles people with mental health conditions and/or the condition itself?
- Offends people with mental health conditions by insulting them?
- Patronizes people with mental health conditions by treating them as if they were not as good as other people?
CMHA Ontario provides more information and tips to stop stigma and discrimination.