World Mental Health Day has been celebrated annually on 10 October since1992. Every year a different theme is set by the World Federation for WorldMental Health Day. The theme for 2007 is 'Mental health in a changing world: the impact of culture and diversity'

We live in a culturally interconnected world where one person in every 35 is an international migrant. Dramatically different languages, religions and cultures coexist in a single country. This cultural diversity may influence many aspects of mental health, including how individuals from a given culture communicate and manifest their symptoms, their style of coping, their family and community supports, and their willingness to seek treatment.

In the mental health care setting, culture impacts how people:

1. label and communicate distress;
2. explain the causes of mental health problems;
3. perceive mental health providers; and
4. utilize and respond to mental health treatment.

The 2007 World Mental Health Day campaign, an initiative of the World Federation for Mental Health, will bring attention to trans-cultural mental health services and treatment.