More than 1 billion people are living with mental health conditions worldwide, with anxiety and depression driving the second-leading cause of long-term disability, according to two World Health Organization reports. The findings were published in “World mental health today” and “Mental Health Atlas 2024,” and the organization underscored an urgent need for increased investment, legal reform and systemic change.
Here are six things to know:
- More than 1 billion people live with mental health disorders, which are highly prevalent across all countries and income levels, according to a Sept. 2 news release from the WHO.
- Depression and anxiety cost the global economy an estimated $1 trillion annually, largely due to lost productivity, according to the reports.
- Suicide remains the leading cause of death among young people. At current rates, global efforts are projected to reduce suicide mortality by 12% by 2030, short of the U.N. goal of 33%.
- Median government spending on mental health has stagnated at 2% of total health budgets since 2017. Low-income countries spend as little as 4 cents per person, compared to $65 in high-income nations.
- The global median number of mental health workers stands at 13 per 100,000 people, with stark shortages in low- and middle-income countries.
- Fewer than 10% of countries have fully adopted community-based care. Inpatient psychiatric care remains common, with high rates of involuntary admission and long stays, the reports said.
