The recognition of the crucial role that mental health plays in achieving global development goals has increased in recent years, as shown by its inclusion in the Sustainable Development Goals. Depression is a major cause of disability, while suicide ranks fourth as a leading cause of death among 15-29-year-olds. Individuals with severe mental health conditions die prematurely, up to twenty years earlier, due to avoidable physical conditions.
Despite some countries making progress, individuals with mental health issues often suffer from serious human rights violations, discrimination, and stigma.
Although many mental health conditions can be treated effectively at a relatively low cost, there remains a significant gap between those who require care and those with access to it. The coverage of effective treatment is still very limited.
Increased investment is necessary in all aspects of mental health: to raise awareness and reduce stigma; to improve access to quality mental health care and effective treatments; and to research and develop new and better treatments for all mental disorders. In 2019, the WHO launched the WHO Special Initiative for Mental Health (2019-2023): Universal Health Coverage for Mental Health. Its goal is to ensure that mental health care of high quality and affordable cost is available to an additional 100 million people across 12 priority countries.
Burden
Mental health issues are on the rise worldwide, with a 13% increase in mental health conditions and substance use disorders in the past decade (up to 2017) largely due to demographic changes. Mental health conditions are now responsible for 1 in 5 years lived with disability. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among 15-29-year-olds, and around 20% of children and adolescents worldwide suffer from mental health conditions. In post-conflict settings, one in five people are affected by mental health conditions.
Mental health issues can significantly impact all aspects of life, including academic or work performance, relationships with family and friends, and the ability to engage in community activities. The global economy loses $1 trillion each year due to two of the most common mental health conditions, depression and anxiety.
Despite these alarming statistics, governments spend less than 2% of their health budgets on mental health, on average.
WHO Response
WHO collaborates with Member States and partners to enhance mental health at both the individual and societal level. WHO aims to promote mental well-being, prevent mental disorders, and improve access to high-quality mental health care that respects people’s human rights. To this end, WHO launched the WHO Special Initiative for Mental Health (2019-2023): Universal Health Coverage for Mental Health, which aims to provide access to affordable and high-quality mental health care to 100 million more people in 12 priority countries.
WHO’s mental health activities encompass normative and country support activities. WHO has been instrumental in extending mental health care in over 110 countries and has been active in various areas such as integration into general health care (via the Mental Health Gap Action Programme, mhGAP), disease-specific programs like those for HIV, tuberculosis, and gender-based violence, suicide prevention, mental health workforce development, promoting quality of care and patients’ rights (QualityRights), policy and legislation on mental health, mental health and psychosocial support in emergencies, developing and testing innovative psychological interventions such as digital interventions, mental health in the workplace, mental health economics, and the mental health of children and adolescents, and promoting mental health.
