Investing in Mental Health

International organizations like the United Nations and the World Health Organization are beginning to prioritize mental health as a serious public health crisis, yet it remains starkly under-funded. The global burden of depression and anxiety disorders has been studied and quantified, and the results have raised eyebrows globally. Mental health disorders account for approximately 13% of the global disease burden and cost the world around $2.5 trillion, according to a 2014 report from the United Kingdoms’ All-Party Parliamentary Groups on Global and Mental Health. However, as depicted in the above graph, financial efforts to improve health outcomes for those with depression, anxiety, or other mental illnesses fall well short of meeting needs in low, middle, and high-income countries.

Databyte via APPG Mental Health for Sustainable Development Report. The Mental Health Innovation Network.