Be a local champion

There are many ways to advocate for mental health. In addition to supporting WFMH we have listed a few more options on how you can make a difference every day in your community and in your network. Local advocacy is just as important as global and to build a lasting movement, we need as many voices as possible to be heard. We hope we can count on you on being a local champion.

1. Understand the challenges of mental health

The mind and thus mental health is complex and there are many opinions on what it is and what people should do. The best way to start is to learn some facts. Here are some helpful resources to get you started.

• Read the 2017 World Mental Health Day report which has contributions from numerous prominent mental health organizations and especially focuses on how mental health impacts the workplace.
• Check our other publications and previous World Mental Health Day reports
• WHO also offers great resources to get a better understanding of the importance of mental health

2. Become active in your community

You can accomplish a lot by being vocal in your community. There's still significant social stigma and shame surrounding mental health and one way to break the circle is to be open and talk about it. Use your knowledge and the resources linked above and reach out to family, friends, and colleagues whenever the occasion rises.

Also consider joining or volunteering at local and national advocacy groups supporting their efforts for change.

3. Amplify your voice on social media.

Social media has tremendous reach and is a great way to connect to other local champions and joining our global mental health community. If we all come together, we will be unstoppable and our voices will be heard in all corners of the world that is connected to the internet.

You can start by joining the WFMH communities on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Use hashtags like #worldmentalhealthday and #mentalhealth when posting on social media and remember to check the tags to find more relevant people, organizations and resources.