About one billion people suffer from mental disorders

The need for psychological help is growing like a snowball. During the pandemic alone, the number of cases of mental illness, in particular anxiety disorder and depression, increased by 25 percent worldwide, while not everyone has the opportunity to receive the necessary treatment. This is reported from the World Health Organization (WHO).

In 2019, almost one billion people worldwide suffered from mental disorders, 14 percent of them were teenagers. More than one percent of all deaths in the world are associated with suicides, which are the result of a severe mental condition. Almost 60 percent of all suicides were committed by people under the age of 50.

Mental disorders lead to an increase in unemployment, disability and premature mortality. People with severe mental illnesses die on average 10-20 years earlier than all other inhabitants of the planet. Basically, death occurs due to the development of preventable physical diseases.

He added that investing in mental health protection is an investment in improving life.

Tedros noted the close connection between mental health and social well-being, human rights and socio-economic development. He is confident that changes in the field of mental health can create real benefits not only for individuals, but also for communities and countries as a whole.

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, effective, inexpensive and high—quality psychiatric care was available to a limited number of patients - 71 percent of people with psychotic disorders remained without treatment. While in high-income countries 70 percent of people with psychoses are referred for treatment, in low-income countries only 12 percent of those in need receive similar assistance.

Stigmatization, discrimination and violation of the rights of people with mental illnesses often prevail among the population and in institutions providing assistance. 20 countries still criminalize attempted suicide. The poorest segments of the population are at the greatest risk of mental health deterioration in a wide variety of countries.

There are significant gaps in the coverage of depression care in all countries. Even in high-income countries, only one third of people suffering from depression officially receive help for depression.