The World Health Organization has released two new publications — World mental health today and the Mental Health Atlas 2024 — highlighting the staggering reality that over 1 billion people are living with mental health conditions worldwide. These reports underscore the immense human and economic toll of disorders such as anxiety and depression, which now rank as the second leading cause of long-term disability.
While many countries have made strides in updating mental health policies and integrating services into primary care, the reports reveal persistent gaps in financing, legislation, and workforce capacity. Alarmingly, median government spending on mental health remains at just 2% of total health budgets, with stark disparities between high- and low-income countries.
The findings serve as a critical call to action ahead of the 2025 UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs and Mental Health, urging governments and global partners to prioritize:
- Equitable financing of mental health services
- Rights-based legal and policy reform
- Investment in the mental health workforce
- Expansion of community-based, person-centered care
📘 Read the full news release and access the reports here: