Over a billion people are living with mental health conditions

Dear Colleagues,

According to the reports World mental health today (https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/382343/9789240113817-eng.pdf) and Mental Health Atlas 2024 (https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/382452/9789240114487-eng.pdf) released by the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 1 billion people are living with mental health disorders.

Mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression are highly prevalent in all countries and communities, affecting people of all ages and income levels, impacting both males but especially females and inflicting substantial economic losses on a global scale.

Suicide remains a devastating outcome and is a leading cause of death among young people across all countries and socioeconomic contexts.

Depression and anxiety alone cost the global economy an estimated US$ 1 trillion each year. Median government spending on mental health remains at just 2% of total health budgets – unchanged since 2017 and showing an unprecedented stagnation!

Disparities between countries are big, with high-income countries spending up to US$ 65 per person on mental health, and low-income countries as little as US$ 0.04.

These reports will serve as critical tools for the WPA for continuing work to improve global mental health according to the WPA Action Plan 2023-2026 in line with UN Sustainable Development Goals.

I look forward to welcoming you to the approaching WCP 2025 taking place in Prague, from 5th to 8th of October to discuss how to further promote our efforts to improve mental health through clinical and public health measures.

Sincerely,

Danuta Wasserman, Professor
WPA President