Geneva, September 16, 2025 — More than one billion people worldwide are currently living with a mental health condition, according to a new report by the World Health Organization (WHO), which warns that mental health services are failing to meet global needs and must be urgently expanded.
The report, published today ahead of World Mental Health Day, paints a stark picture: while awareness of mental health has improved significantly in recent years, access to treatment remains critically low, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called the figures a “global wake-up call.”
“Mental health is a universal human right — yet too many people, in too many places, are still left behind. We urgently need to invest in services that are accessible, affordable, and integrated into primary care,” he said.
The Scope of the Crisis
According to the report:
- Over 1 in 8 people globally are affected by conditions such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and PTSD.
- Mental health disorders account for nearly 15% of the global disease burden among people aged 10 to 29.
- Suicide remains a leading cause of death among youth, particularly in lower-income nations.
Despite these numbers, the average national expenditure on mental health stands at just 2% of health budgets worldwide.
Treatment Gap Widens
In low-income countries, up to 85% of people with mental health conditions receive no formal treatment. Even in wealthier nations, underfunded systems, long wait times, and social stigma continue to block access to care.
The report criticizes many governments for failing to prioritize mental health during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, despite rising rates of psychological distress, loneliness, and burnout.
“We’ve made progress in destigmatizing mental health — but progress without policy and investment means little to those still suffering in silence,” the report warns.
Urgent Call to Action
The WHO urges countries to:
- Integrate mental health services into primary healthcare systems.
- Train more community-based mental health workers and reduce reliance on psychiatric institutions.
- Expand digital mental health tools to reach underserved populations.
- Support early intervention in schools and workplaces.
- Increase research funding into mental health treatments and prevention.
The report also emphasizes the link between conflict, climate change, poverty, and mental well-being — noting that those displaced by war or disaster are at significantly higher risk of developing mental health issues.
Global Reaction
Mental health advocates welcomed the report but stressed that time is running out.
“Mental health care is not a luxury — it’s a necessity,” said Dr. Laila Mahmood, a public health specialist working in refugee communities. “We’re not just talking about statistics. We’re talking about lives.”
International NGOs, including Médecins Sans Frontières and Save the Children, also joined the call for richer nations to fund mental health infrastructure as part of global development aid.
The Human Cost
The report includes personal testimonies from individuals across the globe, from a farmer in Uganda battling untreated depression to a teenager in Japan struggling with school-related anxiety. Each story highlights both the urgency of the crisis and the transformative power of accessible mental health care.
Looking Ahead
The WHO plans to work with member states to launch a Global Mental Health Action Compact, aiming to scale up services by 2030 and reduce the global treatment gap by at least 50%.
As Dr. Tedros noted in closing:
“There is no health without mental health. It’s time we act like it.”