Friendship benches to promote this year’s World Mental Health Day

To promote World Mental Health Day (WMHD) 32 friendship benches have been constructed to encourage people to chat to others or simply take a moment to breathe. 

H.E. Sheikha Hind and Sir Mo Farah revealed a preview of the first bench at the World innovation summit for Health, before showing the full design in Doha today.

This year’s theme for WMHD is to ‘make mental health and wellbeing for all a global priority’.  

First celebrated in 1992, the day provides people with a chance to talk about how we need to look after our mental health and ways people can reach out if they’re struggling.  

From climate anxiety, the cost-of-living crisis and pressures being placed on NHS, this year’s WMHD needs more recognition than ever before. 

All the benches built in aid of WMHD will represent each participating FIFA Nation that is set to compete in the world cup this November. 

The project is part of the Sport for Health partnership, led by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Qatar’s Minister of Public Health (MoPH). Its goal is to show the importance of mental health, as well as offering advice on ways to promote mental wellbeing through physical activity and sport. 

Some of the benches are being presented today at 974 Stadium in Doha, one of the venues for this year’s World Cup.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO said: ‘The bench is a simple yet powerful vehicle for promoting mental health, from park benches where people gather, to football stadiums where players and staff watch their teams play for the joy and promise of sport and success.’ 

H.E. Dr Hanan Al Kuwari, MoPH in Qatar said: ‘Mental health is a core component of the Sport for Health partnership and our goal is for the Friendship Benches to provide a place, during and after the FIFA World Cup, for residents and visitors to Qatar to come together and ask each other ‘Are You OK?’ 

According to WHO one in eight people nationally are living with a mental health issue.  

During the first year of the pandemic, WHO reported the number of people with depression and anxiety rose to 25%, bringing the total number of suffers to almost one billion.  

To support WMHD, The Mental Health Foundation have said: ‘For over 70 years, we’ve been working to make sure that mental health is treated on par with physical health. 

‘We do need to do as much as possible to prevent mental ill-health as individuals and as a society.’ 

The final locations of the benches will be announced after they have been unveiled for the first time.    

Photo by Finn