Context:
Recently, the World Health Organization published two major reports — World Mental Health Today and Mental Health Atlas 2024 — providing updated global data on mental health conditions for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began. These reports highlight the ongoing and growing burden of mental health issues worldwide.
Key findings of these reports:
Global Mental Health Burden (2021)
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- Over 1 billion people (1 in 7 globally) were living with mental health conditions in 2021.
- Anxiety and depression accounted for more than two-thirds of all mental health cases.
- Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder affected 1 in 200 and 1 in 150 adults, respectively.
- Over 1 billion people (1 in 7 globally) were living with mental health conditions in 2021.
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Suicide:
· Suicide caused more than 1 in every 100 deaths worldwide in 2021.
· It remains a leading cause of death among 15–29-year-olds.
· Suicide disproportionately affects youth and marginalized populations.
· Males are more likely to die by suicide than females.
Economic and Social Costs
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- Mental health conditions carry huge economic burdens, especially in lost productivity.
- Depression and anxiety cost the global economy over US$1 trillion annually.
- Mental health conditions carry huge economic burdens, especially in lost productivity.
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Gaps in Services and Policy
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- Since 2020, countries have strengthened policies, but legal reforms are lacking.
- Mental health spending remains at just 2% of health budgets, unchanged since 2017.
- Since 2020, countries have strengthened policies, but legal reforms are lacking.
- Spending varies from US$65 per person (high-income) to US$0.04 (low-income countries).
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India’s Mental Health Crisis:
India is grappling with a severe mental health crisis, with around 150 million people estimated to need mental health intervention. Depression affects approximately 56 million people, while 38 million suffer from anxiety disorders, resulting in a substantial disease burden and economic losses estimated at USD 1.03 trillion between 2012 and 2030.
Key Challenges:
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- Treatment Gap: A significant 70-92% of people with mental health conditions do not receive adequate care.
- Societal Stigma: Negative perceptions and fear of mental illness prevent many from seeking help.
- Inadequate Infrastructure: Mental health services remain poorly developed and insufficiently implemented at the grassroots level.
- Contributing Factors: Rapid urbanization, academic pressures, socioeconomic struggles, substance abuse, and the COVID-19 pandemic have worsened mental health issues.
- Treatment Gap: A significant 70-92% of people with mental health conditions do not receive adequate care.
India’s Mental Health Initiatives:
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- Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 decriminalized suicide attempts, emphasizing rehabilitation and rights-based care.
- National Mental Health Programme (NMHP), launched in 1982, integrates mental health with general healthcare, promotes community involvement, and develops skilled professionals.
- Tele MANAS program, started in 2022, offers free 24/7 tele-mental health support in 20 languages, expanding accessibility nationwide.
- Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 decriminalized suicide attempts, emphasizing rehabilitation and rights-based care.
Way forward:
The WHO urges governments and stakeholders to accelerate reforms by increasing investments, integrating mental health into primary care, expanding access to services, and addressing stigma. The reports underscore that mental health care is not a privilege but a fundamental right essential to human well-being and social development.
