[2] This day, each October, thousands of supporters come to celebrate this annual awareness program to bring attention to mental illness and its major effects on people's lives worldwide.

[6] World Mental Health Day was celebrated for the first time on October 10, 1992, at the initiative of Deputy Secretary General Richard Hunter.

Up until 1994, the day had no specific theme other than general promoting mental health advocacy and educating the public.

[7] In 1994 World Mental Health Day was celebrated with a theme for the first time at the suggestion of then Secretary General Eugene Brody.

The theme was "Improving the Quality of Mental Health Services throughout the World".