{"id":6387,"date":"2025-09-10T04:11:15","date_gmt":"2025-09-10T04:11:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theeaglenews.co.in\/?p=6387"},"modified":"2025-09-10T04:11:15","modified_gmt":"2025-09-10T04:11:15","slug":"over-1-billion-people-now-living-with-mental-health-disorders-who-warns-in-urgent-global-call-to-action","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theeaglenews.co.in\/?p=6387","title":{"rendered":"Over 1 Billion People Now Living with Mental Health Disorders, WHO Warns in Urgent Global Call to Action."},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>

Over 1 Billion People Now Living with Mental Health Disorders, WHO Warns in Urgent Global Call to Action.\u00a0<\/strong><\/h1>\n

\nWHO\u2019s latest reports expose critical gaps in mental health care, call for urgent investment, legal reform, and equitable access ahead of UN High-Level Meeting.\u00a0<\/em><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

GENEVA:<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

More than 1 billion people globally<\/strong> are now living with mental health disorders, according to new data released by the World Health Organization (WHO)<\/strong>. Conditions such as anxiety and depression<\/strong> are contributing to a mounting public health and economic crisis, with WHO calling for urgent, systemic transformation<\/strong> in how mental health is prioritized and delivered worldwide.<\/p>\n

The findings are detailed in two comprehensive new reports \u2014 \u201cWorld Mental Health Today\u201d<\/strong> and the \u201cMental Health Atlas 2024\u201d<\/strong> \u2014 which offer the most up-to-date overview of mental health worldwide. The data will serve as a critical foundation for dialogue and policy action during the upcoming United Nations High-Level Meeting on Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health<\/strong>, scheduled for 25 September 2025<\/strong> in New York.<\/p>\n

\u201cTransforming mental health services is one of the most pressing public health challenges,\u201d said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus<\/strong>, WHO Director-General. \u201cInvesting in mental health means investing in people, communities, and economies \u2013 an investment no country can afford to neglect.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\n

Mental Health: A Growing Global Crisis<\/strong><\/h3>\n

According to WHO\u2019s estimates, anxiety and depression<\/strong> are now among the most common mental health conditions globally<\/strong>, cutting across all regions, ages, and income groups. They rank as the second-leading cause of long-term disability<\/strong>, severely impacting quality of life and economic productivity.<\/p>\n

Mental health conditions are responsible for:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • $1 trillion in annual global economic losses<\/strong>, primarily due to reduced productivity;<\/li>\n
  • Increased health-care costs for individuals and families;<\/li>\n
  • Severe emotional and social consequences that ripple across communities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Suicide: A Persistent Tragedy<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    The data also reveals the grim toll of suicide, which claimed approximately 727,000 lives in 2021<\/strong> alone. Suicide remains a leading cause of death among young people<\/strong> globally.<\/p>\n

    Despite global commitments under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)<\/strong> to reduce suicide mortality by one-third by 2030, the current pace of progress is far too slow. On the present trajectory, the reduction will only be 12%<\/strong> by the 2030 deadline.<\/p>\n

    \n

    Investment Still Alarmingly Low<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    One of the most concerning findings from the Mental Health Atlas 2024<\/em> is the lack of progress in mental health funding<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

      \n
    • Median government spending<\/strong> on mental health remains at just 2% of national health budgets<\/strong>, unchanged since 2017.<\/li>\n
    • High-income countries<\/strong> spend up to US$ 65 per capita<\/strong>, while low-income countries<\/strong> allocate as little as US$ 0.04 per person<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
    • The global median number of mental health professionals<\/strong> is just 13 per 100,000 people<\/strong>, with critical shortages in many regions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
      \n

      Policy Progress but Limited Legal Reform<\/strong><\/h3>\n

      Since 2020, many countries have made strides in updating their mental health policies<\/strong>, often adopting rights-based approaches<\/strong> and improving preparedness for mental health emergencies. However, progress in legal reform<\/strong> has been far slower:<\/p>\n

        \n
      • Fewer than half of countries evaluated have mental health laws fully aligned with international human rights standards<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
      • Many mental health services still rely on institutionalized, hospital-based care<\/strong>, with over 20% of psychiatric hospital stays lasting longer than one year<\/strong> and nearly half of admissions occurring involuntarily<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
        \n

        Community-Based and Primary Care Still Lagging<\/strong><\/h3>\n

        WHO continues to advocate for a shift toward community-based, person-centered care<\/strong>, yet only fewer than 10% of countries<\/strong> have fully transitioned to this model.<\/p>\n

        Encouragingly, integration of mental health into primary care<\/strong> is improving, with 71% of countries meeting at least three of five WHO criteria<\/strong> for integration. However, vast gaps in service coverage<\/strong> remain, especially in low-income settings where fewer than 1 in 10<\/strong> people with severe mental health conditions receive care.<\/p>\n

        In contrast, over 50% of those in high-income countries<\/strong> are able to access treatment, highlighting glaring global inequities<\/strong> in mental health care.<\/p>\n

        \n

        Emerging Hope: Telehealth and School-Based Support<\/strong><\/h3>\n

        Despite challenges, the reports highlight positive trends<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

          \n
        • Telehealth and outpatient services<\/strong> are expanding, particularly in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent mental health demand.<\/li>\n
        • More than 80% of countries<\/strong> now include mental health support in emergency response plans<\/strong>, up from just 39% in 2020<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
        • Countries are increasingly promoting school-based mental health<\/strong> and early childhood development programmes<\/strong>, though coverage remains uneven.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
          \n

          A Global Wake-Up Call<\/strong><\/h3>\n

          While there has been progress, WHO stresses that the world is not on track<\/strong> to meet the objectives of its Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan<\/strong>, which aims for universal access to quality mental health care.<\/p>\n

          WHO is issuing a global call to action<\/strong>, urging governments and partners to commit to bold reforms and sustained investments to ensure mental health is treated as a basic human right<\/strong>, not a privilege.<\/p>\n

          Key Recommendations from WHO:<\/strong><\/h3>\n
            \n
          1. Equitable Financing<\/strong>
            \nIncrease government funding for mental health and ensure fair distribution of resources.<\/li>\n
          2. Legal and Policy Reform<\/strong>
            \nEnact and enforce mental health laws that protect human rights and promote dignity.<\/li>\n
          3. Workforce Development<\/strong>
            \nTrain and retain more mental health professionals, especially in low-resource settings.<\/li>\n
          4. Community-Based Care Expansion<\/strong>
            \nShift from institutional care to integrated, community-centered services.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
            \n

            \u201cEvery government and every leader has a responsibility to act with urgency,\u201d said Dr Tedros. \u201cWe need to build systems that not only treat mental illness but also prevent it<\/strong>, support mental well-being<\/strong>, and eliminate stigma<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

            As the world prepares for the UN High-Level Meeting on Mental Health<\/strong> later this month, WHO\u2019s message is clear: Mental health must become a global priority \u2014 now and for future generations.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

            Over 1 Billion People Now Living with Mental Health Disorders, WHO Warns in Urgent Global Call to Action.\u00a0 WHO\u2019s latest reports expose critical gaps in […]<\/p>\n

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