Overview

• Two WHO reports set a new global baseline, estimating 1.095 billion people—about 13–14% of the world—are living with mental disorders, with anxiety (359 million) and depression (332 million) most prevalent.
• Suicide caused about 727,000 deaths in 2021—roughly 1 in every 100 deaths—and current trends fall short of the UN goal to cut suicides by one‑third by 2030.
• Mental health receives about 2% of health budgets on average, with stark inequities: high‑income countries spend about $65 per person versus $0.04 in low‑income settings.
• Coverage gaps are wide, with fewer than 10% of people receiving care in low‑income countries compared with over 50% in high‑income nations, and there are only 13 mental‑health specialists per 100,000 people on average.
• Some progress is noted, including emergency psychosocial support now in over 80% of countries (up from 39% in 2020) and growing integration into primary care and telehealth, as WHO presses for rights‑based, community services and legal reforms ahead of the 25 September UN meeting.