Why do we need a
MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVE?

According to the United Nations‘ (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres¹, “The mental health and wellbeing of whole societies have been severely impacted by this [pandemic] crisis and are a priority to be addressed urgently… Many people are distressed due to the immediate health impacts of the virus and the consequences of physical isolation… Mental health will remain a core concern even as countries emerge from the pandemic and embark on social and economic recovery."²

In another report, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in the United States³ noted that in a recent survey, 40.9% of respondents reported at least one adverse mental or behavioral health condition. The increase in depression, anxiety, stress and trauma-related disorders, substance abuse and suicidal ideations is staggering compared to 2019 and 2018 numbers. The prevalence of symptoms of anxiety disorder was approximately three times those reported in the previous year, and of depressive disorder was approximately four times that reported in the previous year.

Among these troubling numbers, the numbers among young adults stands out! Among 18-24 year-olds three in four reported at least one adverse mental or behavioral health condition, and one in four reporting seriously having considered suicide in the past 30 days.

That is a fact! But there is hope!

You and I can do something to reverse this trend!