mental health

World Mental Health Day 2011

10/10/2011 9:30 am

Bishop Richard Moth, Bishop of the Forces

World Mental Health Day raises public awareness about mental health issues. The day promotes more open discussion of mental health needs and advances in prevention and treatment services for mental illness.

The facts below illustrate why our communities of faith have a huge part to play in raising awareness, challenging stigma and offering acceptance and support to those facing the challenges of living with mental illness.

  • In 2010 depression was the most prevalent illness after coronary heart disease
  • 1 in 4 people will suffer a mental illness in their lifetime
  • 1 in 10 children aged 5 – 16 have a clinical mental illness
  • 1 in 100 people will suffer from schizophrenia (600,000 people)
  • 26 million prescriptions a year relate to a mental health issue
  • After a decade of annual declines there has been an 8% rise in suicide between 2007 and 2009
  • There are 5000 suicides every year in our country
  • Suicide is the second most common cause of death of men under the age of 35
  • 820,000 people in the UK suffer from dementia

Pope Benedict XVI

"I invite you to pray for those with mental health difficulties: that they are not placed on the margins, but treated with respect and lovingly supported as they live their life with dignity."

Download Resources

Article: Cliff of Falls 232.76 kB

Article: Do Not Go Back to Sleep 235.74 kB

Prayers for World Mental Health Day 2011 274.13 kB

Reflection

Bishop Richard Moth offers this three-minute reflection for World Mental Health Day. You can listen to the mp3 using our Flash Player in the top right-hand corner of this article or download by right-clicking on the link.

MP3

Bishop Richard Moth's Mental Health Reflection

In this audio feature, we look at World Mental Health Day. Bishop Richard Moth, Catholic Bishop of the Forces and Lead Bishop for the Mental Health Project offers his reflection.   mental-health-day-reflection.mp3 3.22 MB