"Making Mental Health & Well-Being for All a Global Priority" - World Mental Health Day

As we celebrate World Mental Health Day, we get the opportunity to re-kindle our efforts to protect and improve mental health making it a priority globally.

In 2020 an estimated one in eight people globally were living with a mental disorder, a number that got dramatically increased by the pandemic and the ongoing crises. According to the latest report by UNHCR, by the end of 2021 at least 89.3 million people worldwide were forced to leave their home due to conflict, natural hazard, human right violations, violence or persecution, leaving an alarming number of people with post-traumatic disorder, depression and generalised anxiety disorders.

Numerous studies have shown the positive impact of the arts, including healthcare clowning, in improving the health and wellbeing of people living in extremely stressful situations. Humour is one of the important facets of personal resilience that an individual can draw upon, when attempting to deal with high levels of adversity, trauma, or any other extremely stressful circumstance.

RED NOSES, for over 25 years, has been working to make mental wellbeing a priority for all.

Through the space created by the playful and emotionally honest encounters with clowns, children and adults often feel empowered and safe to express difficult or unpleasant emotions, enhancing their resilience and overall mental health.

RED NOSES envisions a world in which mental health is valued, promoted and protected. To succeed we must increase awareness on preventive interventions, deepen the value and commitment we give to mental health as individuals, communities and governments, and strengthen mental health care so that the full spectrum of mental health needs is met through a community-based network of accessible, affordable and qualitative services.

Let’s use this day to spread awareness on this important topic and start engaging in a much-needed systemic change.

Get involved and support our efforts to spread joy and help improve the mental wellbeing of thousands of people around the globe, for more than ever, in laughter there is hope.

The Impact of Healthcare Clowns on Mental Health in Emergency Context