Suicide was responsible for more than 1 in 100 deaths and 58% of suicides occurred before age 50. People with severe mental health conditions die on average 10 to 20 years earlier than the general population, mostly from preventable physical illnesses. Social and economic inequalities, health emergencies, warfare and the climate crisis are among the global structural threats to mental health. Depression and anxiety increased by more than 25% in the first year of the pandemic alone. THE REPORT
17 JUNE –
The World Health Organization has published today the largest review of world mental health since the beginning of the century. The detailed work provides a blueprint for governments, academics, healthcare professionals, civil society and others who have the ambition to support the world in mental health transformation.
In 2019, nearly one billion people – including 14% of the world‘s teenagers – were living with a mental disorder. Suicide was responsible for more than 1 in 100 deaths and 58% of suicides occurred before age 50. Mental disorders are the leading cause of disability, causing one in six years of disability. People with severe mental health conditions die on average 10 to 20 years earlier than the general population, mostly from preventable physical illnesses. Childhood sexual abuse and bullying are leading causes of depression. Social and economic inequalities, health emergencies, warfare and the climate crisis are among the global structural threats to mental health. Depression and anxiety increased by more than 25% in the first year of the pandemic alone.
Stigma, discrimination and human rights violations of people with mental health problems are widespread throughout communities and care systems; 20 countries still criminalize suicide attempts. In all countries, it is the poorest and most disadvantaged people in society who are most at risk of mental illness and least likely to receive adequate services.
Even before the Covid pandemic, only a small fraction of people in need had access to effective, affordable and quality mental care. For example, 71% of people with psychosis worldwide do not receive mental health services. While 70% of people with psychosis are treated in high-income countries, only 12% of people with psychosis receive mental care in low-income countries. Regarding depression, gaps in coverage of services are large in all countries: even in high-income countries, only one third of people with depression receive formal mental health care and treatment is estimated to be minimally adequate for depression. depression ranges from 23% in high-income countries to 3% in low- and middle-income countries.
Drawing on the latest available evidence, showing examples of good practice and giving voice to people’s lived experience, the comprehensive WHO report highlights why and where change is most needed and how it can best be achieved. Invite all stakeholders to work together to place greater value and commitment on mental health, reshape environments that affect mental health, and strengthen systems that deal with people’s mental health.
The WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesussaid: “Everyone’s life touches someone with a mental health condition. Good mental health translates into good physical health and this new relationship is a compelling case for change. The inextricable links between mental health and public health, human rights and socioeconomic development mean that transforming mental health policies and practices can produce real and substantial benefits for individuals, communities and countries everywhere. Investing in mental health means investing in a better life and future for all “.
All 194 WHO member states have signed up to the Global Mental Health Action Plan 2013-2030, which commits them to achieving global goals for transforming mental health. The progress made over the past decade shows that change is possible. But change is not rapid enough, and the history of mental health remains a history of need and neglect, with $ 2 in 3 of low government mental health spending going to self-contained psychiatric hospitals rather than community-based mental health services. , where people are best served. For decades, mental health has been one of the most neglected areas of public health, receiving a fraction of the attention and resources it needs and deserves.
Dévora KestelDirector of the WHO Department of Mental Health and Substance Use, called for a change: “Every country has ample opportunity to make significant progress towards better mental health of its population. health care, to include mental health in insurance programs, to develop or strengthen mental health services in communities, or to integrate mental health into general health care, schools and prisons, the numerous examples in this report demonstrate that strategic changes can make a big difference. “
The report urges all countries to accelerate implementation of the 2013-2030 Global Mental Health Action Plan. The report makes several recommendations for action, grouped into three “transformation paths” that focus on changing attitudes towards mental health, managing mental health risks and strengthening mental health care systems .
These actions are:
1. Learn more about the value and commitment we place on mental health. For example:
Increase investment in mental health, not only by ensuring adequate funds and human resources throughout the healthcare and other sectors to meet mental health needs, but also through committed leadership, pursuing evidence-based policies and practices, and establishing strong information and monitoring systems.
Include people with mental health problems in all aspects of society and decision-making to overcome stigma and discrimination, reduce inequalities and promote social justice.
2. Reshape environments that affect mental health, including homes, communities, schools, workplaces, health services and natural environments. For example:
Intensify engagement across all sectors, including to understand the social and structural determinants of mental health and take action to reduce risks, build resilience and dismantle the barriers that prevent people with mental health problems from fully participating in society .
Implement concrete actions to improve the mental health environment, for example by stepping up actions against intimate partner violence, abuse and neglect of children and the elderly, enabling nutritious assistance for early childhood development, making livelihood support available for people with mental health conditions, introducing social and emotional learning programs and tackling bullying in schools, changing attitudes and strengthening rights in mental health care, increasing access to spaces green and banning the highly dangerous pesticides that are associated with one fifth of all suicides in the world.
3. Strengthen mental health care by changing where, how and by whom mental health care is provided and received.
Build community-based interconnected service networks that deviate from custodial care in psychiatric hospitals and cover a spectrum of care and support through a combination of mental health services integrated into general health care, community mental health services and health services. outside the healthcare sector.
Diversify and increase treatment options for the most common mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety, which have a 5 to 1 benefit / cost ratio. tasks that expands evidence-based care to general health care professionals and community providers as well. It also includes the use of digital technologies to support guided and unguided self-help and to provide remote assistance.
June 17, 2022
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