 Stop the lockdowns. We agree with you. Lockdowns like the ones in Melbourne, Adelaide, Spain, South Africa, the UK, Ireland, certain states in the USA, and so many other places have led to an increase in rates of depressions of up to 300%. This is tripled the number of people with depression than before the lockdowns. This is because people feel helpless and become hopeless about their future when they are forced to remain at home, isolated with little to no contact from their family and social supports, when they live in fear fuelled by the media, when they are stressed to the limit juggling new work from home conditions and childcare and homeschooling, or when they no longer have income to support themselves and their family, and when they have no control or say in how they live their lives. No wonder cases of depressions are three times higher now. As leading mental health experts, it is troubling to see that lockdowns and restrictions are still being used extensively, despite us having a much greater understanding of the virus itself, its management and treatment, and despite reductions in the numbers of people becoming sick from the virus. My name is Peter Diaz. I am the CEO of the WMHI, the Premier Mental Health Solution, and I come to you today with what is a deeply important message about the mental health of so many people around the world right now. What started off as a 14-day lockdown to flatten the curve and allow hospitals to cope has become, from a mental health perspective, a disaster of epic proportions leading to a tsunami of mental health outbreaks. Make no mistake, we agree lockdowns are the cause of a lot of pain and suffering in the form of depression, loneliness, anxiety, substance abuse, domestic violence, self-harm, and even suicide. And there's also the distractions of goals, dreams, livelihoods and in general of all those things that make life worth living for many of us. I'm here to tell you, there has to be a better way, there is a better way. Let's not forget, you have good mental health, we need some basic elements. A quality of life, having your basic needs like food, shelter and physical human contact met in a manner that is consistent with your psychological blueprint. Having a purpose larger than oneself that is of service to others, for many this means being employed, running a business or having the right to congregate and worship, and last but most importantly, the respect and honouring of their human rights. As a guide for this, we refer to the UN's Declaration of Human Rights, which includes amongst other things, freedom of movement, freedom of expression, freedom of peaceful assembly, employment and education. It is for all these reasons that we hold from the perspective as mental health experts, that lockdowns are the sort that we've too often seen across the world this past year are both unsustainable and irresponsible. Lockdowns have become a mental health disaster, they have created a tsunami of pain, suffering and despair for millions, they have led to the destruction of livelihoods and the loss of employment of millions, and become the metaphoric death sentence of millions of children living in poor countries, whose lives depend on their economies doing well, and so much more. It has been argued by many in authority that the lockdowns are needed for the sake of public health. However, experts also say that when you look at the impacts of these measures on public health and well-being, it is obvious that we have a clear case of the cure being worse than the illness. At the start of this pandemic, millions of dollars have been funneled into major mental health organizations for the so-called purpose of supporting people to cope with the impacts of the pandemic. We welcome this type of funding. However, we believe it is not acceptable for organizations to receive that funding in exchange for keeping silent on this issue. If we keep silent and do not help to address the cause of the problem, then we are perpetuating the problem. We would only be addressing the symptoms and not treating the cause, and that is not good enough. We agree that lockdowns have made things worse. We agree that they should not have been implemented the way they were. In fact, the fact is that here now, the fact is we are all affected, and here is how we can help you. Two individuals out there currently in lockdown. We want to let you know that we are here for you. We feel for you. We know what you're going through, and we know that whatever you're feeling, it's okay. It's okay. It's okay to be angry. We get it. We are angry too. It's okay to be angry at injustice, regardless of the cause. You have every right to be, but please make sure that that anger is directed to the right place, not to yourself, not to your friends, not to your family, not to your partners or to your children. Instead, talk to and email your local representatives often and let them know how you feel and how this is impacting you and your communities specifically. Tell them what you see. Speak up. If you're feeling sad and hopeless, that's okay too. It's normal. Please reach out for support. Know that this cannot last indefinitely. Do whatever you need to do that makes you feel just a little bit better. Be kind to yourself, just one day at a time, and if you go back and forth between the two, that's okay too. If you feel like you're going mad, we assure you you're not. This is an insane situation. You're not the insane one. So do reach out and get help wherever you are. You're not alone, even if it may feel that way. There are people all over the world rooting for you. We are rooting for you. Listen, I want to make it clear that for us at the WMHR, this is not about politics. This is about mental health. This is about personal freedoms and human rights. And when we see them being abused or cast aside, we must speak up. We agree that lockdowns have made things worse. We agree that they should not have been implemented the way they were. The fact is, they're here now. The fact is, we are all affected. If this message helps just one person, then it's worth it. And if it has touched you, it is worth it. Please spread it around. Touch more people. Take heart and be kind to each other. We are here for you. We are the WMHI, the Premier Mental Health Solution, and we will always be 100 percent committed to your mental health. If you have any questions, please send them into my team and we will respond shortly. Again, I'm Peter Diaz and I'm here to remind you that your mental health is your real wealth.