The overall objective of World Mental Health Day is to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and to mobilize efforts in support of mental health. The theme for 2021 is “Mental health care for all: let’s make it a reality.”

The Day provides an opportunity for all stakeholders working on mental health issues to talk about their work, and what more needs to be done to make mental health care a reality for people worldwide.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on people’s mental health. Some groups, including health and other front line workers, students, people living alone, and those with pre-existing mental health conditions, have been particularly affected. And services for mental, neurological and substance use disorders have been significantly disrupted.

Yet there is cause for optimism. During the World Health Assembly in May 2021, governments from around the world recognized the need to scale up quality mental health services at all levels. And some countries have found new ways of providing mental health care to their populations.

Local mental health resources include:

Bluebonnet Trails Community Services (Bastrop, Burnet, Caldwell, Williamson counties)

https://bbtrails.org/ [click.icptrack.com]

Hill Country MHDD Center (Hays County) https://www.hillcountry.org/ [click.icptrack.com]

Integral Care (Travis County) https://integralcare.org/en/home/ [click.icptrack.com]

NAMI of Central Texas https://namicentraltx.org/ [click.icptrack.com]