With a global population exceeding 8 billion, new data released by the World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday shows that more than 1 billion people are living with mental health disorders.
The global body said even though many countries have strengthened mental health policies and programs, greater investment and action are required to protect individuals with disorders.
Conditions, including anxiety and depression, are widespread in all nations, communities, and ages, and represent the second biggest reason for long-term disability, contributing to loss of healthy life.
The WHO, in two new reports – World Mental Health Today and Mental Health Atlas 2024, spotlight some areas of progress while revealing the gaps in tackling mental health conditions worldwide.
The findings are expected to shape countries’ strategies and discussions ahead of the 2025 United Nations Meeting on Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health on September 25 in New York.
Speaking on the reports, WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, noted that transforming mental health services is one of the most pressing public health challenges.
“Investing in mental health means investing in people, communities, and economies – an investment no country can afford to neglect,” Ghebreyesus said.
The DG reminded governments and leaders of their responsibility to act with urgency and to ensure that mental health care is treated not as a privilege, but as a basic right for all.
One in 8 people living with mental health disorders – WHO