RAGMHI works towards developing a shared vision among interested Rotarians worldwide for creating an environment that promotes positive mental health to help children, adults and families lead meaningful and productive lives. Its mission is to act as a worldwide resource for Rotarians in the field of mental health and mental illness to promote, protect, restore, and to help re-build the lost human capital to make a happier and healthier world.
 
AREA of Focus:  DISEASE PREVENTION

Our health is everything. Yet 400 million people in the world can’t afford or don’t have access to basic health care. We believe good health care is everyone’s right...including mental health!

Disease results in misery, pain, and poverty for millions of people worldwide. That’s why treating and preventing disease is so important to us. We lead efforts both large and small. We connect you with projects in underserved communities struggling with mental health care access happening in all parts of our world. We support community workers, peer leaders, clinicians, doctors, families, schools, workplaces, and governments working together to improve lives.

Under this Area of Focus, other Rotarians combat diseases like malaria, HIV/AIDS, Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, diabetes,  polio while our Rotarian Action Group focuses on Mental Health. Prevention is important, which is why we also focus on mental health education and bringing people routine screenings.

 
2019 World Suicide Prevention Day/Month
Every September, around the globe, an increased awareness is raised up through recognizing the month as Suicide Prevention Month.  Of note, on September 10th, there is World Suicide Prevention Day.  Each of us is asked to put a light in our window at 8pm (2000) for one hour to acknowledge the lives lost to suicide.  In that manner, as our world turns on its axis, there is a continuous 24 hours of recognition throughout every country.
 
Here is a presentation which can provide information and data regarding the impact of suicide - everywhere.  Get informed!
Peer Leadership & Depression Prevention-Nigeria
Posted by Bob Anthony
Any Rotary club can replicate this successful mental health project that has been proven by schools in the USA, Puerto Rico, India, and Nigeria. You are welcome to translate its supplemental materials into a local language: versions to date include English, Spanish, Hindi, Kannada, and Marathi.
 
PLDP-Nigeria was initiated with the help of the Rotarian Action Group on Mental Health Initiatives.  Eight schools in Nigeria have trained faculty, parents, and 1,824 teens; two of the schools also added a  computer lab to introduce a virtual Wellness Center  (within Whyville.net) to students age 7 and older. Grant funding is not mandatory because the core training and content are online without cost from Boston Children’s Hospital (https://www.openpediatrics.org/course/break-free-depression); the sustainable elements include a referral protocol, experienced trainers, and normalized conversations around mental health and wellness. If grant money is made available, it can be put to excellent use by adding clinical care - the implementations in Puerto Rico, India, and Nigeria were completed through Rotary global grants that provided a traveling clinician to support each participating school during the implementation year and to identify ongoing resources. 
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Preventing Suicide in Lithuania
It began in 2015, when Vice-Chair of RAGMHI, Dr. Geetha Jayaram (RC Howard West), visited Dr. Vygintas Grini (RC Kaunas) in Lithuania to discuss the possibility of reducing the number of suicides in that country which has been approximately 9 times higher than other countries is the EU.  Dr. Jayaram spoke on, “The role of contemporary leader in the prevention of suicides” and agreed to help implement the project, provide consultations, and supervisions for project quality assurance for GG1743565.
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Retaining the girl-child in school
The Rotaract Club of Kampala International University champion for this project is Bombokka Mpanga Ivan (bombokkaivanm@gmail.com) and the population served are girls attending Public schools in Uganda. Menstruation is a normal occurrence in every pubescent school-going girl and is associated with a variety of issues ranging from its physical symptoms to psychological effects such as anxiety, depression and inherent psychosocial stress.
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Resources
 

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Discover and celebrate diverse perspectives on mental health and wellness with a global organization poised to take action.