The global burden of mental illness and the demand for mental health support services continue to be key global health concerns. Governments and other stakeholders frequently ignore and do not prioritize mental diseases.
Health is “a condition of total physical, mental, and social well-being and not only the absence of disease or disability,” according to the World Health Organization (WHO). This classification has limitations because more people are living longer with chronic co-morbidities.Like with other elements of health, a variety of socioeconomic factors can have an impact on mental health. These issues must be addressed through comprehensive strategies that include access to preventative measures, treatments, and support for recovery, as well as awareness-building.
With an estimated global cost of US $2.5 trillion, mental health issues are the leading cause of economic health burden in the world, costing more than any of cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease, cancer, or diabetes alone.
By 2030, it is anticipated to reach more than US $6 trillion. For context, the total amount spent on global health in 2009 was US $5.1 trillion.
In comparison to cancer and heart disease, which each account for 16% of the total disease burden, mental health issues account for 28% of it.
In any given year, one in four adults and one in ten kids are likely to experience mental health issues.
Three-quarters of psychiatric problems begin before the age of 15 and more than half before the age of 25.
The treatment of mental health is becoming recognized as one of the leading global health challenges today and incorporates a diverse range of conditions affecting all ages and populations, from autism in childhood through to depression in adults and dementia in older people.
The treatment gap, that is the gap between the need for treatment and its provision, exists throughout the world. According to the WHO, between 76% and 85% of people with severe mental health disorders receive no treatment for their disorder in low- and middle-income countries.1
The corresponding range for high-income countries is also significant, with between 35% and 50% receiving no treatment.1 The treatment gap varies depending upon the psychiatric conditions that are most prevalent, social attitudes towards mental health and the availability of resources for treatment.
