Updated 13 October
On World Mental Health Day, 10 October, the World Health Organization hosted, for the first time ever, a global online advocacy event on mental health. At this event—the Big Event for Mental Health—world leaders, mental health experts and celebrity guests joined WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, to tell the world what we can all do to improve our mental health and how we can help make sure that quality mental health care is available to everyone who needs it.
During the event, which was streamed on WHO’s social media channels, viewers were able to:
- learn how WHO, together with our partners, is helping improve the mental health of people in countries throughout the world;
- hear from national and international leaders about why they are making mental health a priority;
- hear first-hand why internationally-renowned artists have become mental health advocates and listen to their advice for those who are struggling; and
- listen to critically-acclaimed musicians perform some of their most popular music.
Recording of the Big Event for Mental Health
Host and participants
Award-winning journalist, Femi Oke, hosted the event. She was joined by mental health advocates and performers including:
- Cynthia Germanotta: President and Co-Founder (with her daughter Lady Gaga) of Born This Way Foundation and WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Mental Health
- Alisson Becker: goalkeeper for Liverpool Football Club and the Brazilian National Football Team and WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Health Promotion
- Natália Loewe Becker: medical doctor and WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Health Promotion
- Talinda Bennington: widow of Linkin Park lead vocalist Chester Bennington and founding partner of the mental health advocacy organization 320 Changes Direction
- Klas Bergling: father of DJ, musician and producer Tim Bergling, aka Avicii, and Co-founder of the Tim Bergling Foundation.
- Korede Bello: Founder of the Korede Bello Foundation, mental health advocate, and singer and songwriter from Nigeria
- Jonny Benjamin: mental health campaigner, film producer and public speaker
National and international leaders who have championed mental health in their own countries also participated:
- Her Majesty Queen Mathilde of the Belgians
- Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, President of Republic of Maldives
- Epsy Campbell Barr, First Vice-President of Costa Rica
- Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister of Singapore
- Sigrid Kaag, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, of the Netherlands
- António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General
- Peter Sands: Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
- Muhammad Ali Pate: Global Director, Health, Nutrition and Population, World Bank
