World Mental Health Day: Nurturing our well-being at Globant

Mental health is a topic discussed more and more each day, and recently, there has been a growing recognition of the significant role mental health plays in pursuing global development objectives, exemplified by its incorporation into the Sustainable Development Goals. 

According to UN data, almost one billion people globally suffer from some form of mental disorder, which includes around one in seven teenagers, and it’s thought that more than one in five U.S. adults live with a mental illness. 

The World Health Organization states that depression is among the primary contributors to disability, while suicide is the fourth most prevalent cause of death among people from 15 to 29. Individuals with severe mental health disorders face premature mortality, often up to two decades earlier, resulting from preventable physical health issues.

Despite advances in certain nations, individuals dealing with mental health conditions frequently encounter severe infringements on their human rights, discrimination, and social stigma. At Globant and through its Be Kind To Yourself initiative,  we acknowledge the importance of the well-being of Globers and underline the need to take care of themselves. In this spirit, we wanted to observe this year’s World Mental Health Day commemoration on October 10 and launched efforts inviting Globers to participate. 

World Mental Health Day at Globant

To reinforce the importance of mental health, Globant prepared tools for Globers, including two webinars focused on managing change: 1. Managing Resistance to Change, and 2. Welcoming the change in your life.

These two webinars highlight the idea included in the phrase “the only certainty is uncertainty.” Since life is unpredictable, and we cannot be sure what the future will bring, uncertainty is a permanent constant for everyone. It leads us to recognize that we should expect and accept that we can’t control every outcome.

“Usually change can bring a lot of anxiety since it moves us out of our comfort zone, flexibility and creativity as well as courage to overcome the impact of the change are needed more than ever these days.”- Milagros Olivera, Be Kind to Yourself Manager at Globant. 

Of course, when events don’t go according to plan and things change, we need to adapt and be flexible before the randomness, chance, and unforeseen circumstances we might face that will pivot our lives. Resilience is a significant tool that can help us in an ever-changing and uncertain world.

Acknowledging uncertainty, ironically, leads us to be better prepared for constant change, as it helps us think of possible solutions to a problem or have more than one option when making decisions, manage risks, and be prepared for unexpected developments as we shape ourselves to adjust. 

Additionally, Globant developed a new strategic alliance with Insight Timer to promote more and more courses, playlists, and tools for mental health. Be Kind to Yourself is also developing  Quiet Rooms, special places for silence whose goal is to offer a unique space designed to pause and encourage self-awareness of their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual states in the act of self-care.

This year’s Theme: ‘Mental Health is a Universal Human Right’

World Mental Health Day was founded on October 10, 1992, by the World Federation for Mental Health; this year’s official theme is ‘Mental Health is a Universal Human Right.’ Since its inception, it has been commemorated annually to increase global awareness about essential mental health issues. It accomplishes this by working with various partners to mobilize efforts and instigate enduring transformations. Over time, this day has gained increasing momentum, evolving into a forum where governments, organizations, and individuals can devise initiatives that address diverse facets of mental health support and treatment.

The objectives to commemorate World Mental Health Day aim to: 

• Raise awareness on a global level and educate people about mental health, mental illnesses, and their impact on individuals, families, and communities.
• Reduce stigma, isolation, and discrimination associated with mental health conditions, promote understanding and empathy, and encourage open conversations to share experiences, challenges, and successes. 
• Highlight the importance of prioritizing good mental health through self-care, stress management, and seeking help. 
• Advocate for access to affordable mental health services and support systems. 

With the vision of fostering a world that values and nurtures the well-being of all, Globant’s mission is to continue shining a light on mental health every day, not just on October 10, and creating a more compassionate and understanding world, through kind actions, self-awareness, and well-being practices.