The World Health Organization (WHO) have released its most comprehensive mental health review of the century: the ‘World Mental Health Report: Transforming Mental Health for All’ , on 17th of June.The report notes that mental health needs are at an all-time high, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, yet the responses have been inadequate, so it calls for global action to address mental health issues.
According to the data, there is a massive spike in the rates of some common conditions like depression and anxiety. This spike increased by 25% in the first year of the pandemic.
“Everyone’s life touches someone with a mental health condition,” said the Director-General of WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
“Good mental health translates to good physical health and this new report makes a compelling case for change.”
“The inextricable links between mental health and physical health, human rights and socio-economic development mean that transforming policy and practice in mental health can deliver real, substantive benefits for individuals, communities and countries everywhere. Investment into mental health is an investment into a better life and future for all,” he further added.
Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan 2013- 2030
Previously, WHO member states adopted the Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan 2013- 2030. Wherein member nations are committed to putting a collective effort into improving mental health, concentrating on strengthening leadership, governance, and community-based care. However, progress has been slow.
Social and economic inequalities, public health emergencies, war, and the climate crisis are among the global, structural threats to #MentalHealth.
Depression and anxiety went up by more than 25% in the first year of the pandemic alone https://t.co/J856BrylBBPhoto: Getty Images pic.twitter.com/XE6nWKB3JB
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) June 17, 2022
As the United Nations health agency said, “Business as usual for mental health simply will not do.”
‘Multisectoral’ causes needs Multisectoral solution
The report observes the causes or the drivers of mental health are “multisectoral,” some of the major threats of the century being economic hardship, social polarization, rising humanitarian emergencies worldwide, forced displacement as a result of the emerging refugee crisis, and climatic change.
And the worst of all was the COVID-19 pandemic, which alone jeopardizes the mental health of millions. Therefore, the approach to dealing with or improving mental health globally should be a multisectoral approach.
Mental health conditions remain largely prevalent in all countries. Access to mental health services remains largely poor.
The UN agency said more than 70 percent of those suffering from psychosis worldwide, do not get the help they need, citing the current data. High-income nations provide help to 70 percent of the patients. The figures in the low-income countries are even more alarming – only 12 percent of psychosis patients get treatment. This further illustrates the disparity between rich and poor nations affecting equal access to healthcare services.
A recent report appears to be a blueprint for governments worldwide. It focused on investment in mental health for three major reasons: public health, human rights, and the socio-economic development of an individual, a society, or a nation as a whole.
In Tedros opinion
“We need to transform our attitudes, actions and approaches to promote and protect mental health and to provide and care for those in need.”
“We can and should do this by transforming the environments that influence our mental health and by developing community based mental health services capable of achieving universal health coverage for mental health.”