Overview

• WHO’s new reports estimate 727,000 suicide deaths in 2021, just over 1% of all deaths, with suicide a leading cause among young people.
• For each suicide there are about 20 attempts; women are disproportionately affected by mental disorders overall, yet men die by suicide at more than twice the rate of women.
• Government spending on mental health remains a median 2% of health budgets, with per‑capita outlays ranging from about US$65 in high‑income countries to US$0.04 in low‑income countries.
• Service capacity lags with a global median of 13 mental‑health workers per 100,000 people and fewer than 10% of countries fully transitioned to community‑based care.
• WHO urges equitable financing, rights‑based legal reform, workforce investment and community‑centered services ahead of the 25 September UN high‑level meeting.