Psychological Well being, A Common Human Proper for Africans – Africa CDC

What’s psychological well being?

In accordance with WHO [i]Psychological well being is a state of psychological well-being that permits folks to deal with the stresses of life, realise their skills, be taught properly and work properly, and contribute to their group. It’s an integral part of well being and well-being that underpins our particular person and collective skills to make choices, construct relationships and form the world we stay in. Psychological well being is a primary human proper, and it’s essential to non-public, group and socio-economic growth.

Psychological well being in Africa

Throughout the African Area, greater than 116 million folks [ii]have been already estimated to be dwelling with psychological well being situations pre-pandemic, which will be defined by psychological well being situations being thought-about as taboo and generally linked to superstitious practices corresponding to witchcraft.  Folks with psychological well being situations are sometimes going through discrimination and deprivation of their elementary rights.

World Psychological Well being Day is a perfect time for Africa CDC to boost consciousness on this much less know subject in Africa to advocate for African Member States to speculate extra in prioritising psychological well being as critical public well being situation globally. World Psychological Well being Day additionally acknowledges efforts on how, as a continent, can, construct and nurture society that forestalls psychological well being situations amongst communities.

MENTAL HEALTH, A UNIVERSAL HUMAN RIGHT FOR AFRICANS!

One of many flagship interventions for Africa CDC’s technique on psychological well being is the combination of psychological well being and psychosocial social help into emergency preparedness and response which has a part on addressing suicide and self-harm in humanitarian settings. With companions, Africa CDC has carried out three regional workshops in Western, Central and Jap Africa areas, bringing collectively for the primary time psychological well being administrators, emergency preparedness and response officers from 38 Member States to develop plans on easy methods to combine psychological well being and psychosocial, social help into their nationwide motion plan for well being safety.

Due to this fact, this yr’s theme for World Psychological Well being Day 2023 “Psychological well being is a common human proper”, is aligned with Africa CDC’s strategic priorities to advertise psychological well being and well-being, notably amongst high-risk teams for psychological well being situations such because the healthcare employees.

Key messaging:

• In accordance with WHO ( 2022), Throughout the African Area, greater than 116 million folks have been already estimated to be dwelling with psychological well being situations pre-pandemic.
• Few folks in Africa have entry to high quality psychological well being care.
• There’s No Well being with out Psychological Well being!
• Psychological Well being is ‘‘Our Largest Wealth’’
• In Africa, many psychological well being situations have acquired too little consideration and concern by most people, the overall healthcare system, and elected and appointed public coverage makers, leading to insufficient precedence being given to those issues. We name on African Member States to speculate extra in addressing psychological well being points in Africa.
• Signs usually are not a Barrier to Restoration – Angle Is

Hashtags:

#WorldMentalHealthDay2023

#AfricaCDC_Cares

How you can be a part of the marketing campaign?

• Use one of many messages to create your personal personalised poster utilizing the marketing campaign hashtag and tagging @AfricaCDC.
• Repost and share our posts utilizing the marketing campaign hashtag and tag @AfricaCDC
• Be a champion and lift consciousness about psychological well being in your group.
• Be a champion and advocate to your authorities to put money into psychological well being packages inside your nation.
• Take part in your native psychological well being consciousness and advocacy marketing campaign; click on right here to be taught extra in regards to the international marketing campaign.

Media inquiries: Litete Beyande Raïssa, Marketing campaign and Promotion Officer – Coverage, Well being Diplomacy & Communication: Africa CDC | E-mail: LiteteR@africa-union.org

About Africa CDC: The Africa Centres for Illness Management and Prevention (Africa CDC) is a continental autonomous Public Well being company of the African Union which helps Member States of their efforts to strengthen well being techniques and enhance surveillance, emergency response, prevention and management of illnesses. Be taught extra at: http://www.africacdc.org

[i] https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/element/mental-health-strengthening-our-response

[ii] https://www.afro.who.int/regional-director/speeches-messages/world-mental-health-day-2022