Mental Health Weeks are back

On 5 October, the fifth awareness-raising campaign will be launched in Luxembourg to mark World Mental Health Day, which is celebrated on 10 October. The campaign is organised by the Mental Health League (Ligue Santé Mentale). This year, for the first time, the related events will last not one but two weeks and will be held under a slogan calling for a collective effort to overcome psychological difficulties.

The campaign coordinator, Dr Astrid de Leeuw, emphasises that mental health issues are universal and affect people regardless of their age or social status. According to her, the main aim of the initiative is to raise public awareness that people do not have to cope with personal, family or work-related difficulties on their own. Mutual support and seeking professional help at the right time can significantly ease the process of therapy.

At the same time, experts in the field note a steady increase in the number of people seeking help. As Dr Astrid de Leeuw points out, recent statistical studies do indeed show an increase in the proportion of people with mental health disorders. However, this trend may be explained by a qualitative change in how people perceive their own health: the public has become better at recognising warning signs. In particular, sleep disturbances, rapid fatigue and a lack of motivation are now more frequently identified by patients themselves as signs of psychological difficulties, rather than solely physical ailments.

In light of these changes, experts are emphasising the need for early identification of warning signs, which enables treatment to begin promptly. To achieve this, the campaign organisers are calling for a strengthening of preventive measures, efforts to combat the stigma surrounding mental health conditions, and improved coordination amongst healthcare professionals. As part of the upcoming Mental Health Weeks, an extensive programme is planned, the centrepiece of which will be a free themed festival in the municipality of Strassen, scheduled for 10 October.