The World Health Report 2001 and the Atlas: Mental Health Resources in the World 2017, have revealed an unsatisfactory situation with regard to mental health care in many countries, particularly in developing countries.
Today, about 450 million people suffer from mental disorder worldwide ( Department of Mental Health and Substance Dependence). This number is likely to worsen further in view of the ageing population, worsening health inequity, and civil unrest.
WHO is collecting information about the magnitude and the burden of mental disorders around the world, and about the resources (human, financial, sociocultural) that are available in countries to respond to the burden generated by mental disorders. 194 countries (Member States) are participating with WHO in this endeavor ( World Health Organization , 2017). WHO is also disseminating mental health-related technologies and knowledge to empower countries in developing preventive measures and promoting appropriate treatment for mental, neurological and substance abuse disorders.
123 countries, equivalent to 69% of those countries who responded, or 63% of all WHO Member States, have at least two functioning national, multi-sectoral mental health promotion and prevention programs including mental health literacy to combat stigma, early childhood development/stimulation, and suicide prevention. On the other hand, 30% of the countries do not have a national health program.
In many countries, since mental disorders are not covered by health insurance schemes, many people cannot afford treatment. One-quarter of all countries do not provide disability benefits to patients with mental disorders. One-third of the world’s population – 2 billion people – lives in countries that spend less than 1% of their health budgets on mental health. The relationship between the burden of mental disorders and spending is clearly inappropriate.
Mental health is a key variable in successful programs for sustainable development and poverty reduction Within the spectrum of mental health interventions, prevention and promotion programs have shown to result in considerable economic savings to society (Rutz, Pihlgren, & Rihmer)
A STUDY ON MENTAL DISORDERS 