Marking World Mental Health Day 2018, the butterfly symbol badge was pinned on President Maithripala Sirisena at the Presidential Secretariat, on Tuesday (16).
World Mental Health Day celebration was held under the theme, “Young people and mental health in a changing world” and parallel to this event, activists of the Action Network for Mental Health had organized many events across the country.
World Mental Health Day is observed on October 10, every year, with the objective of raising awareness of mental health issues around the world and mobilizing efforts in support of mental health.
Director of Health Services Action Network, Sunil Nanayakkara pinned the first badge on the President.
The Bali Statement 2018, which was published at a meeting held in Bali Islands of Indonesia in collaboration with the activists of mental health support services of 25 countries of the Asia Pacific region was presented to the President.
It is aimed at establishing a Presidential Task Force in uplifting the lives of the people suffering from psycho social disabilities, eradicating mental health issues, and uplifting the quality of treatments and the health of the community.
Director, National Institute of Mental Heath, Dr. Kapila Wickramanayake, Psychiatric Specialist, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University Dr. Jayan Mendis, and others were present at the event.