More than 1 billion people are living with mental health disorders, according to new data from the World Health Organization (WHO). Conditions such as anxiety and depression represent the second biggest reason for long-term disability and inflict substantial economic losses globally, prompting WHO to call for urgent scaling up of mental health services worldwide.
Key Findings on Mental Health Burden
The WHO released two reports—World mental health today and Mental Health Atlas 2024—documenting the scope and impact of mental health conditions. According to the data, women are disproportionately impacted overall, with anxiety and depressive disorders being the most common types among both men and women. Suicide claimed an estimated 727 000 lives in 2021 alone and remains a leading cause of death among young people across all countries and socioeconomic contexts. Despite global efforts, progress in reducing suicide mortality is insufficient; on the current trajectory, only a 12% reduction in suicide rates will be achieved by 2030, falling short of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal target of one-third reduction.
The economic impact is severe. Depression and anxiety alone cost the global economy an estimated US$ 1 trillion each year, with indirect costs from lost productivity exceeding direct healthcare expenses.
Persistent Service Gaps and Investment Shortfalls
While countries have strengthened mental health policies since 2020, progress has not translated into widespread legal reform. Only 45% of countries evaluated have laws in full compliance with international human rights standards. Government spending on mental health remains stagnant at a median of 2% of total health budgets—unchanged since 2017—with stark disparities between regions. High-income countries spend up to US$ 65 per person on mental health, while low-income countries spend as little as US$ 0.04.
The mental health workforce remains critically understaffed globally, with a median of 13 mental health workers per 100 000 people. Fewer than 10% of countries have fully transitioned to community-based care models. Access disparities are pronounced: fewer than 10% of affected individuals in low-income countries receive care compared to over 50% in higher-income nations. Encouragingly, over 80% of countries now offer mental health and psychosocial support in emergency responses, up from 39% in 2020.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.who.int/news/item/02-09-2025-over-a-billion-people-living-with-mental-health-conditions-services-require-urgent-scale-up