This year’s theme is making mental health and wellbeing for all a global priority.
Although the well-being of world citizens is reeling from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, wars, displacement and the climate emergency there is increasing evidence that it is possible to prevent mental ill health. Using both general and targeted evidence-based interventions can improve outcomes for individuals across the spectrum of mental ill health and the life course.
The 2030 United Nations Agenda for Sustainable Development and Sustainable Development Goals cannot be achieved unless we improve mental wellbeing for all.
There is a need to establish global mental health and well-being targets that can bring together evidence that captures the social determinants of health, including promoting exercise, widening access to good nutrition and food. All of these have a positive impact on mental health and well-being for all.
We can all play our part in increasing awareness about what preventative mental health interventions work.
The role of the NHS in addressing social and economic factors that shape health is being increasingly emphasised in policy. A report from the Health Foundation has found that there is limited evidence and guidance on how this should be done in practice. It recognises that although the most concrete policy action to address social needs in the NHS in England has been the expansion of social prescribing for individual patients, wider interventions and partnerships with communities will offer additional potential. The report outlines a framework describing four categories of approaches for NHS organisations seeking to address social factors that shape health, focusing on the role of local and regional action.
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