Mental health is no longer an issue that can be ignored or pushed to the margins. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), more than one billion people worldwide – that is about one in every seven individuals – were living with some form of mental health condition in 2021. Anxiety and depression together made up over two-thirds of all cases.
The WHO report, based on its Global Health Estimates 2021 and the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021, highlights an urgent truth: mental disorders are now one of the biggest public health challenges, demanding immediate action from governments, societies, and communities.
The findings come as a wake-up call, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic which exposed deep cracks in health systems. But beyond the numbers, this is about real people – families, youth, and workers – whose lives and futures are being disrupted every single day.
The report does not stop at counting cases; it underlines the enormous social and economic toll of mental health disorders. Depression and anxiety, though less costly per individual compared to schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, create the biggest dent in economies because they are far more common. WHO estimates that the global productivity loss caused by these conditions amounts to a staggering USD one trillion every year.
Schizophrenia, described as the most impairing of all health conditions in its acute state, is also the costliest disorder per person. It disrupts lives with hallucinations and disorganised thinking, making recovery and social inclusion extremely challenging. Bipolar disorder, which affects about one in 150 adults, adds further strain.
The most heartbreaking reality is that suicide remains a major killer among young people, accounting for over one in every 100 deaths globally. For every life lost, around 20 attempts are made, leaving scars on families and communities that never fully heal.
This is not only a human tragedy but also a development crisis. Nations that lose their youth to preventable causes like untreated depression or unrecognised anxiety are cutting short their own future potential. For a world already struggling with economic slowdowns, climate change, and inequality, ignoring mental health means multiplying every existing challenge.
WHO chief Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has put it bluntly: “Investing in mental health means investing in people, communities, and economies.” Yet the reality is grim. Governments worldwide are still allocating shockingly low budgets – only about two per cent of total health spending goes to mental health, a figure unchanged since 2017.
The disparity is even more striking when we compare across income levels. High-income countries spend around USD 65 per person on mental health, while in low-income countries the number drops to a shocking USD 0.04 per person. This is not just inequality; it is injustice.
The shortage of trained professionals adds another layer of crisis. Globally, there are only 13 mental health workers for every one lakh people. In low- and middle-income countries, this shortage becomes extreme. Imagine a community of 100,000 people relying on just a handful of psychologists or psychiatrists – the math itself shows how impossible care access becomes.
The WHO reports also note that while many countries have made progress since 2020 in drafting policies, there has been little translation into legal reforms. Without laws and budgets that back policies, mental health continues to remain an underfunded promise.
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The numbers in these reports are alarming, but they should also be seen as a roadmap for change. Governments must recognise that mental health is not a privilege for the few but a basic human right. Every delay in action costs lives and billions of dollars in lost productivity.
Investment in mental health services – counselling centres, community care programmes, school-based interventions, workplace support systems – is not charity. It is one of the smartest economic policies any government can pursue. Every dollar spent on treatment for depression and anxiety returns multiple dollars in improved productivity and reduced healthcare costs.
Beyond governments, societies too must shed the stigma. Too many people suffer in silence because of shame or fear of discrimination. Talking openly, treating mental health like physical health, and creating support networks are steps every community can take.
Finally, the youth need special attention. With suicide already one of the biggest causes of death among them, schools and colleges must become safe spaces where mental health is monitored, supported, and normalised. Preventing even a fraction of these tragedies would mean saving thousands of lives each year.
The WHO’s warning is not just another health statistic; it is a mirror showing the state of our collective well-being. Over a billion people are living with conditions that, if ignored, will weaken families, economies, and nations. The choice is ours: continue treating mental health as a secondary issue, or act with urgency to transform it into a pillar of public health.
The answer should be obvious. Because when a billion lives are at stake, silence is no longer an option.
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