One in eight people has a mental health condition

Cyprus International University (CIU) Psychological Counseling and Guidance Center (PCGC) Psychologist Dr. Çise Haşimoğulları speaking within the scope of World Mental Health Day, said that according to World Health Organization (WHO) data, one in every eight people has mental health problems and that good mental health is of great importance for general health and well-being.

The theme this year for the World Mental Health Day is 'Mental Health is a Universal Human Right.'  Haşimoğulları said that WHO points out that everyone has the right to access the highest level of mental health regardless of who they are or where they live, and he noted that these include protection from mental health risks, quality care and accessibility of health services.

Haşimoğulları emphasized that according to data released by WHO, one in every eight people in the world has mental health problems that can affect their physical health, well-being, relationships with other people and their lives, and said, "However, people with mental health problems all over the world continue to face a wide range of human rights violations." 

Pointing out that many of them are excluded from social life and are discriminated against, Haşimoğulları added, "what’s more, there are many who cannot access the mental health services they need or can only access care that violates human rights."

Haşimoğulları underlined that having a mental health problem should never cause a person to be deprived of his/her human rights or be excluded from decisions regarding his/her own health, and said, “In order to create social and individual change, it is important to realize that mental health is a fundamental human right. Only in this way it will be possible to live in a world where individuals have equal rights and highest level of welfare."