The new data released by the World Health Organization (WHO) has revealed that more than 1 billion people are living with mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression which inflicting immense human and economic tolls.
The new findings published in two reports, World mental health on Tuesday 2rd September and the Mental Health Atlas 2024, highlighted some areas of progress while exposing significant gaps in addressing mental health conditions worldwide.
The WHO revealed further that despite many countries have bolstered their mental health policies, programmes and greater investment, actions are needed globally to scale up services to protect and promote people’s mental health.
It disclosed that the mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression are highly prevalent in all countries and communities, affecting people of all ages and income levels.
WHO added that these conditions represent the second biggest reason for long-term disability, contributing to loss of healthy life. “They drive up health-care costs for affected people and families while inflicting substantial economic losses on a global scale”.
Speaking on the report which it said serve as critical tools to inform national strategies and shape global dialogue ahead of the 2025 United Nations High- Level Meeting on noncommunicable diseases and promotion of mental health and well-being, taking place in New York on 25 September 2025.
WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus said transforming mental health services is one of most pressing public health challenges, adding that investing in mental health means people, communities, and economies investment which no country can afford to neglect.
He said, “Every government and every leader has a responsibility to act with urgency and to ensure that mental health care is treated not as a privilege, but as a basic right for all.”
The report further showed that while prevalence of mental health disorders can vary by sex, which disproportionately impacted overall. Anxiety and depressive disorders are the most common types of mental health disorders among both men and women.
Suicide remains a devastating outcome, claiming an estimated 727,000 lives in 2021 alone. It is a leading cause of death among young people across all countries and socioeconomic contexts.
Despite global efforts, progress in reducing suicide mortality is too low to meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of a one-third reduction in suicide rates by 2030. On the current trajectory, only a 12% reduction will be achieved by that deadline.
WHO also revealed that the economic impact of mental health disorders is staggering. “While health-care costs are substantial, indirect costs – particularly in lost productivity – are far greater. Depression and anxiety alone cost the global economy an estimated US$ 1 trillion each year.
Disclosing that these findings underscore the urgent need for sustained investment, stronger prioritization, and multi-sectoral collaboration to expand access to mental health care, reduce stigma, and tackle the root causes of mental health conditions.
Encouragingly, most countries around the world report having functional mental health promotion initiatives such as early childhood development, school-based mental health and suicide prevention programmes.
Over 80% of countries now offer mental health and psychosocial support as part of emergency responses, up from 39% in 2020. Outpatient mental health services and telehealth are becoming more available, though access remains uneven.
WHO called on governments and global partners to urgently intensify efforts toward systemic transformation of mental health systems worldwide.
WHO included the equitable financing of mental health services; legal and policy reform to uphold human rights; also the sustained investment in the mental health workforce; and expansion of the community-based, person-centered care.
