According to new data from the World Health Organization (WHO), over a billion people around the world are living with mental health disorders, with anxiety and depression inflicting immense personal, social, and economic costs. Despite some progress in policies and programmes, global efforts remain far from sufficient to meet this growing challenge. Mental health conditions affect people across all ages, genders, and income levels, making them the second leading cause of long-term disability. They drive up healthcare costs and contribute to staggering economic losses.
Depression and anxiety alone cost the global economy about US$1 trillion annually in lost productivity. The latest WHO reports, World Mental Health Today and Mental Health Atlas 2024, highlight both progress and persistent gaps, offering crucial guidance ahead of the 2025 UN High-Level Meeting on mental health. The…
