Let’s celebrate the World Mental Health Day today. The 2020 theme is: Focuses on increasing investment on psychosocial support amid pandemic. World Mental Mental Health Day, observed every year on October 10th since 1992, aims to create awareness about mental health issues around the world. With the COVID 19 pandemic changing our lives considerably, mental health has even become more important. The last months have created a number of challenges for everyone but especially for women as frontline workers. We shall always keep in mind that Mental Health is a Human Right.
CORONAVIRUS INFORMATION
Join us on Friday 20 November 2020 for IAWMH’s Webinar – COVID AND GENDER VIOLENCE
Click here for Flyer FOR THE NOVEMBER 20 WEBINAR and to Register!
- The July 24, 2020 webinar recording is now posted to the Member Only page as a member benefit.
We have posted several documents and resources regarding Covid-19 for IAWMH members.
WHO WE ARE
Established in 2001 to improve the mental health of women throughout the world, the International Association for Women’s Mental Health is a Not for Profit, Non-Governmental Organization.
IAWMH is designated by the US Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. The association files financial reports with the IRS according to the law.
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2020
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This International Women’s Day, let’s take a chance to reflect on the reality of women’s lives across the world!
The theme for IWD 2020 is #EachforEqual for women’s rights and an egalitarian future.
Women & girls want to end barriers and discrimination based on their gender:
- Fight stereotypes
- Fight against all forms of violence
- Celebrate all women’s achievements
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted by world leaders includes achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment. Sustainable development means gender equality (Goal Number 5).
Fulfilling this right is the best chance we have in meeting some of the most pressing challenges of our time-from economic crisis and lack of health care, to climate change, violence against women and escalating conflicts. However insufficient progress on structural issues at the root of gender inequality such as legal discrimination, unfair social norms and attitudes, decision making on sexual and reproductive issues and low level of political participation are undermining the ability to achieve SDG 5 (UN Women).
The Global Gender Gap Report 2020 indicates that none of us will see gender parity in our lifetimes and nor will many of our children and that gender parity will not be attained for 99.5 years!
Dwell on the fact that even in 2020 there are 72 countries where women are barred from opening bank accounts or obtaining credit.
Look at the Gender Social Norms Index 2020 released by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) which measures how social beliefs obstruct gender equality. The finding was that close to 90 percent of men and women hold some sort of bias against women.
We have reached parity in primary school enrollment and reduced maternal mortality, but 28% of people still feel it is justified for a man to beat his wife!
This is an important year- 2020 marks the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (Beijing+25) for women’s rights.
On behalf of the IAWMH, let’s take a pledge that this International Women’s Day, we will recognize the role that gender equity and social norms have on women’s mental health. We will strive through research, advocacy, knowledge sharing and policies towards ensuring that every woman and girl child in the world realizes their potential and that we make efforts to remove barriers towards women attaining mental health and well being!
Passionate about gender equity in Mental Health:
Join us at the 9th World Congress on Women’s Mental Health in Melbourne Australia in March 2021.
Best regards from your IAWMH Leadership!
JOIN IAWMH
Come be a part of this vibrant community. As a member of the International Association for Women’s Mental Health you will be part our crucial mission to improve the mental health of women throughout the world, and to promote gender-sensitive and autonomy-enhancing mental health services for women.
IAWMH members network with professional colleagues representing multiple disciplines such as psychiatrists, psychologists, obstetrician/gynecologists, midwives, nurses, social workers, researchers, policy makers and academics. We represent every continent except Antarctica so as a member you are part of a global network that also has professional depth. For more information on member benefits, click the link below.
