Countries should invest more in mental health — WHO

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has called for a massive scale-up of investment in mental health to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on people’s well being. 

As gathered by Daily Times, the WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus made the call as the UN health agency kicks off its World Mental Health Day campaign this September ahead of the annual celebration which holds on October 10.

Ghebreyesus said investing in mental health has become imperative due to the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that the viral disease has increased the burden of mental health disorders globally.

 “We are already seeing the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on people’s mental well-being, and this is just the beginning. Unless we make serious commitments to scale up investment in mental health right now, the health, social and economic consequences will be far-reaching.

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“Mental health is one of the most neglected areas of public health. Close to 1 billion people are living with a mental disorder, 3 million people die every year from the harmful use of alcohol and one person dies every 40 seconds by suicide.

“And now, billions of people around the world have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, which is having a further impact on people’s mental health.

“Yet, relatively few people around the world have access to quality mental health services.

“In low- and middle-income countries, more than 75 per cent of people with mental, neurological and substance use disorders receive no treatment for their condition at all.

“Furthermore, stigma, discrimination, punitive legislation and human rights abuses are still widespread.”

According to him, countries spend on average, only two per cent of their health budgets on mental health.

“This is despite the fact that for every US$ 1 invested in scaled-up treatment for common mental disorders such as depression and anxiety, there is a return of US$ 5 in improved health and productivity.

“That’s why, for this year’s World Mental Health Day, WHO, together with partner organizations, United for Global Mental Health and the World Federation for Mental Health, is calling for a massive scale-up in investment in mental health. To encourage public action around the world, a World Mental Health Day campaign, Move for mental health: let’s invest will kick off in September.”

 The WHO chief further said, “The limited access to quality, affordable mental health care in the world before the pandemic, and particularly in humanitarian emergencies and conflict settings, has been further diminished due to COVID-19 as the pandemic has disrupted health services around the world.

“During the past few months, the WHO has issued, in collaboration with partners, guidance and advice on mental health for health workers and other frontline workers, managers of health facilities, and people of all ages whose lives have changed considerably as a result of the pandemic.

“With the disruption in health services, countries are finding innovative ways to provide mental health care, and initiatives to strengthen psychosocial support have sprung up.

“Yet, because of the scale of the problem, the vast majority of mental health needs remain unaddressed. The response is hampered by chronic under-investment in mental health promotion, prevention and care for many years before the pandemic.”