Tannuka Juneja
According to the survey by World Health Organisation, almost 1 billion people were living with a mental disorder in 2019, 14 of the affected are teenagers.
Global challenges such as social inequality, the Covid-19 pandemic, war and the climate crisis are threats to global health. The WHO study says, depression and anxiety increased by more than 25 percent in the first year of the pandemic alone.
Other data still show that suicide was responsible for more than one in 100 deaths and 58% occurred before the age of 50. The WHO highlights that in 20 countries, attempted suicide is still criminalized. In addition, child sexual abuse and bullying victimization were identified as the main causes of depression.
The report also points out that people with severe mental health conditions die on average 10 to 20 years earlier than the general population, mainly due to preventable physical illness.
Another warning from the document is that, in all countries, it is the poorest and most disadvantaged who are most at risk of mental health problems, although they are the least likely to receive adequate services.
According to the WHO, even before the Covid-19 pandemic, only a small fraction of the population had access to effective and affordable mental care.
The data indicate that 71% of patients with psychosis in the world did not receive treatment. The gap is also seen in countries: while 70% receive treatment for psychosis in high-income countries, the figure drops to 12% in low-income nations.
According to the WHO, even before the Covid-19 pandemic, only a small fraction of the population had access to effective and affordable mental care.
The data indicate that 71% of patients with psychosis in the world did not receive treatment. The gap is also seen in countries: while 70% receive treatment for psychosis in high-income countries, the figure drops to 12% in low-income nations.
