More than one billion people across the world are living with mental health disorders, according to a new report from the World Health Organization (WHO). The UN health agency says conditions such as anxiety and depression are widespread and place an enormous strain on individuals, families, and economies.

The data, published in two new reports – World Mental Health Today and the Mental Health Atlas 2024 – show that while some progress has been made, services remain underfunded and overstretched. Mental health conditions now rank as the second leading cause of long-term disability worldwide.

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the issue as “one of the most pressing public health challenges of our time,” urging countries to treat mental health as a basic right rather than a privilege.

Key Findings

High prevalence: Anxiety and depression are the most common disorders globally. Women are disproportionately affected.

Suicide rates: Around 727,000 people died by suicide in 2021, making it one of the top causes of death among young people. WHO warns the world is far off track to meet the UN goal of cutting suicide rates by one-third by 2030.

Economic toll: Depression and anxiety alone cost the global economy an estimated US$1 trillion every year in lost productivity.

Atlas Highlights

Government spending on mental health remains low, at a median of 2% of health budgets – unchanged since 2017.

Huge disparities exist: high-income countries spend up to US$65 per person on mental health, while low-income countries spend just US$0.04.

Workforce shortages persist, with only 13 mental health workers for every 100,000 people worldwide.

Less than 10% of countries have fully transitioned to community-based mental health care.

Despite some progress – such as greater integration of mental health into emergency responses and the rise of telehealth – WHO says much more is needed.

Call for Action

The agency is calling on governments to scale up investment, strengthen community-based care, and reform laws to protect human rights.

The report comes ahead of the United Nations High-Level Meeting on Mental Health and Noncommunicable Diseases scheduled for September 25, 2025, in New York, where world leaders are expected to announce stronger commitments.