Yet governments on average are spending just around 2% of their budgets on mental health services, the same since 2017, and the median number of mental health specialists is 13.5 per 100,000 people.
The number of people living with a mental health condition has surpassed 1 billion globally, according to a report from the World Health Organization. But investments to improve mental health services in countries are lagging behind.
Mental health is one of the most neglected health issues globally and has a substantial impact on the global economy due to lost productivity. According to WHO, depression and anxiety alone cost the global economy a staggering $1 trillion annually.
And while the current numbers are concerning, Mark Van Ommeren, head of the mental health unit at WHO, warned they may be an underestimate, given the stigma surrounding mental health.
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