Taking part in breaking the chains of stigma in mental health and restoring human dignity for persons with mental illness, the World Council of Churches together with Fracarita International organizes a World Mental Health Day Event in the Ecumenical Centre, Geneva on 5 October 2016.

Fracarita International has organized different World Mental Health Days in New York, Ghent and in Mumbai. This year, Fracarita International in collaboration with the World Council of Churches, the Permanent Mission of Belgium, the World Health Organization and with the Foundation d’Harcourt have planned a day in Geneva to raise awareness and advocacy to the UN.

The purpose of the event is to sensitize the UN community, Permanent Missions, non-governmental organizations and all who are involved in policy making of the importance of mental health and to realize that there is still a devastating stigma in that field.

Speakers of the event include H.E. Ambassador Geert Muylle, Permanent Representative of Belgium to the UN in Geneva and vice-president of the Human Rights Council, Prof. Dr Isabel Apawo Phiri, associate general secretary of the WCC, Dr Shekhar Saxena, director of Department Mental Health and Substance Abuse of the WHO, Mr Dainius Püras, Special Rapporteur on Health (Human Rights Council), Brother Dr René Stockman, general superior of the Brothers of Charity and president of Fracarita International and others.

Background and programme of the event (pdf)

Date: Wednesday 5 October 2016 from 9.30 am till 1.30 pm.

Venue: Ecumenical Centre, 1 Route des Morillons, Geneva (map)

Registering online - deadline for registration: 2 October 2016.