World Federation for Mental Health: Promoting Mental Well-Being Globally
Mental health is an essential part of overall health and wellbeing. To address the global burden of mental health, the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) was established in 1948. WFMH is a non-governmental organization that works to promote mental health education, awareness, prevention, research, and advocacy worldwide. This article provides an overview of WFMH, its mission, and its impact on mental health globally.
History of WFMH
WFMH was founded in 1948 by a group of mental health professionals from multiple countries. It was initially organized as a network of mental health organizations that shared ideas and resources. In 1952, the World Health Organization (WHO) recognized WFMH as an official NGO. Since its founding, WFMH has grown to include over 80 member organizations from 60 countries, representing more than 500,000 mental health professionals.
Mission and Objectives
WFMH’s mission is to promote mental health as a fundamental right of all people. Its objectives are to provide leadership in the development of global mental health initiatives, to facilitate collaboration between mental health professionals, to advocate for improved mental health services, and to promote mental health education, awareness, and research. To achieve its goals, WFMH works with governments, mental health organizations, and other stakeholders to develop strategies for mental health promotion and advocacy.
Impact
WFMH has had a significant impact on mental health globally. It has helped to advance understanding of mental health issues, to reduce stigma and discrimination, to advocate for improved mental health services, and to promote mental health education. WFMH has also contributed to numerous initiatives, such as the World Mental Health Day, the World Mental Health Congress, and the International Association for Suicide Prevention.
Conclusion
WFMH is an important organization in the field of global mental health. It has helped to increase understanding of mental health issues, to reduce stigma and discrimination, and to promote mental health education and advocacy. WFMH’s work has had a significant impact on mental health globally, and it is committed to continuing its efforts to promote mental health and wellbeing worldwide.
References
Dastagiri, S., Chandrasekaran, R., & Reddy, K. S. (2016). World federation for mental health: History, objectives, and impact. Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 58(1), 69–73. https://doi.org/10.4103/0019-5545.174153
World Federation for Mental Health. (n.d.). About us. Retrieved from https://wfmh.global/about-us/
World Health Organization. (n.d.). Non-governmental organizations in official relations with WHO. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/about/who-we-are/partners/ngo/en/