The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a stark warning over a rapidly escalating global mental health crisis, revealing that more than one billion people worldwide are currently living with mental health conditions. The agency is urging governments to urgently expand mental health services — especially in low- and middle-income countries where access to care remains critically limited.
A new WHO report released Wednesday highlights that one in every eight people suffers from a mental health condition, with depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder among the most common. Yet an overwhelming three out of four individuals receive no adequate treatment.
“Mental health is not a privilege; it’s a human right,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “The world can no longer afford to neglect it.”
Unequal access and widening gaps
The report exposes deep inequalities in mental health investment. High-income countries spend an average of US$60 per person annually on mental health services, while most African and Asian countries spend less than US$2. The result: millions are left to suffer in silence, often facing stigma, unemployment, homelessness, and social exclusion.
In Sub-Saharan Africa, the disparity is even more alarming — one psychiatrist serves up to 500,000 people, compared to roughly one for every 2,000 patients in Europe. WHO warns that failure to invest in mental health care will only deepen global poverty and threaten social and economic stability.
Youth and women are hit hardest
Young people and women are disproportionately affected by mental health challenges, the report notes. School stress, unemployment, cyberbullying, conflict, and gender-based violence are major drivers of anxiety and trauma.
During a virtual press briefing, Dévora Kestel, Director of WHO’s Mental Health Department, urged policymakers to embed mental health services in every national health plan.
“We can no longer separate mental well-being from physical health,” she insisted. “Healing minds is as vital as healing bodies.”
In its new report, WHO is urging world leaders to increase investment by allocating at least 5% of national health budgets to mental health, while also strengthening awareness and anti-stigma programs and expanding psychological support across schools, workplaces, and communities.
Experts emphasize the need for community-based care that ensures services are accessible, affordable, and supportive rather than isolating individuals in institutions. “The time for promises has passed,” said Dr. Mark van Ommeren, WHO technical officer. “We need to transform words into policies and ensure no one is left behind.”
