Just as we advocate for access to clean water, nutritious food and physical healthcare, we must also advocate for the right to mental well-being as it is not a privilege but a fundamental aspect of human dignity and should be accessible to all regardless of their background and circumstances.
This has been highlighted by Charge Nurse Taniela Rasavuka during the launch of the Fiji National University’s month-long World Mental Health Day celebrations.
Rasavuka says mental health is indeed a universal human right, and the university should be a beacon of support and understanding in this regard.
He says by working together, students and faculty can create an environment where everyone’s mental health is respected, protected and nurtured.
Psychiatric Survivors Association Project Manager Sera Osbourne says there are inequalities in access to mental health resources.
She says stigma, in particular, manifests in harmful stereotypes and discrimination, impeding access to the care and support people deserve.
Osbourne says as students, they hold the power to challenge the status quo and drive positive change in the society.
She also encouraged attendees to dismantle stereotypes, advocate for equitable access to mental health services and champion the cause of mental health as a universal human right.
The theme for World Mental Health Day is “Mental Health is a Universal Human Right”.
