The world is facing a mental health crisis. According to new data from the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 1 billion people are living with conditions such as anxiety and depression.

These situations are affecting life everywhere at age groups, gender and income levels by putting heavy pressure on families, communities and economies and economies.

A heavy human and economic toll

Mental health disorders are now the second major cause of long -term disability worldwide. They loot people of healthy years of life, promote domestic savings, and global economic losses through out-off-pocket expenses.

The number is difficult to ignore: anxiety and depression cost the world economy alone cost the estimated US $ 1 trillion every year.

In India, a study cited in the WHO report showed that women suffering from depression were three times more likely to spend more than half of their domestic income on health care. These costs deepen inequalities and add more stress to already weaker families.

Conclusions are wide in two new reports-Since Mental Health today and mental health atlas 2024. Together, they portray a mixed picture: while countries have progressed by updating policies and by presenting school-based and community level programs, the pace of improvement remains slow.

The expenditure on mental health has barely moved. On average, governments dedicate only 2% of their health budget to mental health – similar to 2017.

The gap between rich and poor nations is striking: while high -income countries spend up to $ 65 per person, in low -income countries this figure is as low as US $ 0.04.

Lack of workforce is still a major concern. Globally, there are only 13 mental health workers for every 100,000 people, of which are low and very low in moderate-or-I countries.

Most care is still attached to psychiatric hospitals, and the community-based models of support are being introduced only slowly.

Suicide: A continuous tragedy

Suicide is one of the most destructive consequences of poor mental health.

In 2021, it claimed 727,000 lives, making it a major cause of death among young people. Despite the global goals to cut the suicide rate by one third by 2030, the current progress shows that only 12% decrease will be achieved.

Covid-19 epidemic added new challenges. While the global suicide rate remained roughly stable during the first 15 months of the epidemic, in some places including New Delhi and Japan, especially reported an increase between women and youth.

Epidemic also spoiled the level of anxiety and depression, fuel from isolation, financial stress, domestic violence and job loss.

Gender case

The report confirms that mental health conflicts all cut demographics, but women are inconsistently affected. Anxiety and depression topped the list of general conditions for both men and women, but women added economic and social weaknesses, making their burden heavy.

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Gabrisus, who is Director General, described mental health services as “one of the most pressure public health challenges”.

“Investing in mental health means investing in people, communities and economies – An investment cannot bear the risk of neglect. Every government and every leader has the responsibility to work with urgency and ensure that mental health care is not considered as a privilege, but is considered as a basic right to all,” he said.

Encouraged, more than 80% of countries now provide mental health aid as part of emergency reactions from 39% in 2020.

School-based programs, early childhood initiatives and suicide attempts to prevent suicide are expanding. Telehealth is also making services more accessible, although not equally.

The WHO says that mental health care is progressing, but it is still very slow. To make a difference in fact, governments need to spend proper money on mental health, protect people’s rights through strong laws, train more mental health workers and focus on care that are based in communities and focusing on people’s needs.

Mental health is a fundamental right – one that demands immediate action.