United Nations stresses need to provide support to people facing psychological distress during crisis situations
WHAT: Press Briefing relating to World Mental Health Day 2016
WHO: Ambassador Caleb Otto, Permanent Representative of Palau to the UN
Dr. Nata Menabde, Executive Director of the WHO office at the UN
This year’s commemoration of World Mental Health Day (10 October) focuses on Psychological First Aid: First-line of Support in Emergency Situations.
Today, the world is witnessing an unprecedented wave of humanitarian emergencies linked to conflict and natural disasters. Exposure to such trauma and sudden loss can have severe consequences for long-term mental health in the absence of mental health care, says the World Health Organization (WHO).
Psychological First Aid is a practical approach that can be provided by first responders such as police and fire officers, health staff in emergency units and humanitarian aid workers following a short course of training.
At the press conference, WHO will also brief on its year-long World Health Day (7 April 2017) campaign which was launched on 10 October. Called Depression: Let’s Talk, the campaign aims to ensure that the general public is better informed about depression, its causes and possible consequences, including suicide, as well as prevention and treatment.
Ambassador Otto of Palau will discuss a General Assembly draft resolution entitled Promoting Mental Health and Well-being in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
WHEN: Tuesday, 11 October 2016 at 11:30 a.m., Press Briefing Room (S-0237) or live through http://webtv.un.org
For more information: http://bit.ly/2aI7tyQ
Media Contacts:
Angelica Spraggins, WHO, T: 646 626 6050, E: aspraggins@whoun.org
Devi Palanivelu, UN Department of Public Information, T: 212-963-1104, E: palanivelu@un.org