Over One Billion People Living with Mental Health Conditions, WHO Warns

More than one billion people worldwide are living with mental health conditions, with anxiety and depression ranking among the most common, according to new data released by the World Health Organization (WHO). The findings highlight the urgent need for countries to scale up mental health services as the economic and human toll continues to rise.

The statistics, published in two reports World Mental Health Today and the Mental Health Atlas 2024, reveal that mental health conditions are now the second leading cause of long-term disability globally. They not only place heavy financial burdens on families and health systems but also drain the global economy, with depression and anxiety alone costing an estimated US$1 trillion annually in lost productivity.

“Transforming mental health services is one of the most pressing public health challenges,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “Investing in mental health means investing in people, communities, and economies – an investment no country can afford to neglect.”

Suicide and Rising Burden

The WHO reports also shed light on suicide, which claimed 727,000 lives in 2021. Suicide remains a leading cause of death among young people worldwide, cutting across income levels and regions. Despite global prevention efforts, current progress suggests suicide rates will drop by only 12% by 2030, far short of the United Nations’ target of a one-third reduction.

Women continue to be disproportionately affected by mental health conditions, particularly anxiety and depression, the reports note.

Funding Gaps and Unequal Services

Despite increased attention to mental health in recent years, spending has stagnated. Median government expenditure remains at just 2% of national health budgets, a figure unchanged since 2017. Stark inequalities also persist: while high-income countries spend up to US$65 per person on mental health, low-income countries invest as little as US$0.04.

The availability of mental health workers reflects a similar imbalance. Globally, there are 13 professionals per 100,000 people, but in many low- and middle-income countries, shortages are severe.

WHO found that fewer than 10% of countries have fully shifted to community-based care, with most still relying heavily on psychiatric hospitals. Nearly half of all inpatient admissions remain involuntary, and more than 20% last over a year, raising human rights concerns.

Areas of Progress

Still, the reports point to some encouraging trends. Since 2020, many countries have updated their mental health policies, integrated services into primary health care, and adopted programmes such as school-based interventions and suicide prevention campaigns.

The COVID-19 pandemic also accelerated preparedness for mental health and psychosocial support during crises. More than 80% of countries now include mental health in emergency responses, compared with just 39% five years ago. Telehealth and outpatient services are also expanding, though unevenly.

Call for Urgent Action

Ahead of the United Nations High-Level Meeting on noncommunicable diseases and mental health scheduled for September 2025 in New York, WHO has urged governments to act with urgency. The agency is calling for equitable financing, legal and policy reform to uphold human rights, sustained investment in the mental health workforce, and a faster transition to community-based, person-centered care.

The Mental Health Atlas 2024, based on data from 144 countries, offers the most comprehensive assessment to date of how nations are addressing mental ill-health. It underscores that while the conversation around mental health has gained momentum, action and investment remain far behind global needs.

“Every government and every leader has a responsibility to ensure mental health care is treated not as a privilege, but as a basic right for all,” Dr Tedros emphasized.