Mental Health Disorders Affect Over 1 Billion People: WHO

More than 1 billion people worldwide live with mental health disorders, with anxiety and depression among the most common conditions, according to new reports from the World Health Organization (WHO). The findings highlight significant human and economic impacts and underscore the urgent need for global action to expand mental health services.

The WHO’s World Mental Health Today and Mental Health Atlas 2024 show that mental health conditions affect individuals across all ages and income levels, and are the second leading cause of long-term disability. The disorders increase health-care costs for individuals and families and generate economic losses globally. Depression and anxiety alone cost the global economy an estimated US$1 trillion each year.

Women are disproportionately affected by mental health disorders, with anxiety and depressive disorders being the most prevalent for both sexes. Suicide claimed about 727,000 lives in 2021, remaining a leading cause of death among young people. Despite international efforts, the trajectory suggests only a 12% reduction in suicide rates by 2030, far below the US Sustainable Development Goal target of a one-third reduction, warns the WHO.

The Mental Health Atlas 2024 reports that while many countries have strengthened policies, adopted rights-based approaches, and improved preparedness for mental health emergencies, legal reforms remain limited. Only 45% of countries have mental health laws fully aligned with international human rights standards. Investment is low and stagnant, with governments allocating a median of 2% of health budgets to mental health. High-income countries spend up to US$65 per person, while low-income countries spend as little as US$0.04. Global median mental health workforce availability is 13 per 100,000 people, with severe shortages in low- and middle-income nations.

Community-based mental health services remain underdeveloped. Less than 10% of countries have fully transitioned to such care models. Psychiatric hospitals continue to dominate inpatient care, with nearly half of admissions involuntary and over 20% lasting longer than a year. Integration into primary care is progressing, yet gaps persist: in low-income countries fewer than 10% of affected individuals receive care, compared to over 50% in higher-income nations.

Some progress has been made. Over 80% of countries now provide mental health and psychosocial support during emergencies, up from 39% in 2020. Programs for early childhood development, school-based mental health, and suicide prevention are increasingly implemented. Telehealth and outpatient services are expanding but remain unevenly accessible.

The WHO urges countries to increase financing, implement legal and policy reforms, strengthen the mental health workforce, and expand community-based, person-centered care to meet the growing global need.