More than 1 billion people live with mental disorders around the world, says WHO

More than 1 billion people live with mental disorders according to reports World Mental Health Today e Mental Health Atlas 2024released by the World Health Organization () last week. The entity warns that the situation has serious human and economic impacts and advocates global expansion of services focused on protection and promotion of mental health.

According to surveys, women are disproportionately more affected, and conditions such as anxiety and depression, which are the most common disorders, are prevalent in all countries and communities. They affect people of all ages and income levels and represent the second largest cause of long -term disability. They also increase health costs and cause substantial economic losses on a global scale.

“Turning mental health services is one of the biggest challenges in public health,” says Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general, in a press release. “Investing in mental health means investing in people, communities and economies, an investment that no country can afford to neglect. Each government and each leader have the responsibility to act urgently and ensure that mental health care is treated not as a privilege but as a basic right of all,” he adds.

Suicide

According to WHO, suicide caused about 727,000 deaths only by 2021, being one of the main causes of death among young people in all countries and socioeconomic contexts.

The goal of the United Nations () sustainable development objectives is to reduce suicide rates by 2030. However, progress is still insufficient and, maintaining the current pace, the reduction should only 12% in the period.

Challenges

There are positive signs. Most countries already adopt mental health promotion programs, such as early childhood, school and suicide prevention actions. More than 80% offer psychosocial emergency support, an advance over the 39% of 2020. Ambulatory and telemarketing services have also expanded, although still unevenly.

But there is still much to be done. According to reports, the average expense of mental health governments remains in only 2% of health budgets, without changes since 2017. While high -income countries spend up to $ 65 per person, low -income those spend only $ 0.04. Globally, there are an average of 13 mental health professionals for every 100,000 people, but low and medium -income countries face critical scarcity of workers in the field.

Countries have advanced in strengthening mental health policies and planning, updating guidelines and expanding psychosocial emergency support, but this progress, according to WHO, has not yet been reflected in legal reforms. Few have passed rights -based legislations, and only 45% have laws in accordance with international human rights standards.

Less than 10% of countries have completed the transition to community care models, while most remain in the early stages. The service is still concentrated in psychiatric hospitals, with almost half of hospitalizations occurring involuntarily and more than 20% exceeding one year.

In addition, the lack of data limits monitoring: Only 22 countries provided sufficient information to estimate coverage in cases of psychosis. In low -income countries, less than 10% of affected people receive care, against more than 50% in rich countries.

Given this scenario, the organization appeals for international governments and partners to urgently expand the efforts to transform mental health systems. Among the highlighted priorities are:

– Ensure equitable financing for mental health services;

– Promote legal and political reforms that ensure respect for human rights;

– Invest continuously in the formation and appreciation of the area’s workforce;

– Expand community care, focusing on the needs of the person;

Where to seek help

If you are experiencing psychic suffering or know someone in this situation, see below where to find help:

Life Valuation Center (CVV)

If you need immediate help, contact the Life Valuation Center (CVV), free emotional support service that provides 24 hours a day service. The contact can be made by email, by chat on the site or by phone 188.

Channel can talk

Initiative created by UNICEF to offer listening to adolescents and young people from 13 to 24 years. The contact can be made by WhatsApp, from Monday to Friday, from 8am to 10pm.

THEIR

Psychosocial Care Centers (CAPS) are units of the Unified Health System (SUS) aimed at the care of patients with mental disorders. The list of CAPS addresses in the city of São Paulo can be checked here.

*With information from Estadão Content

Posted by Nicolas Robert