What has WHO highlighted on mental health?, Pg 12.

Key Highlights:

• Over 1 billion people suffer from mental health disorders; anxiety and depression most prevalent.
• Suicide claimed 7,27,000 lives in 2021, a leading cause of death among youth.
• Current progress projects only a 12% reduction in suicide rates by 2030, short of the SDG target of one-third reduction.
• Global economic burden: Depression and anxiety cost ~$1 trillion annually.
• Public spending stagnates: Median mental health allocation remains at 2% of health budgets, unchanged since 2017.
• Mental health workforce: 13 per 100,000 people globally, with stark disparities between low- and high-income countries.
• In India: Mental health budget stagnant (~₹1,000 crore); psychiatrist ratio 0.7 per 100,000, well below WHO’s 3 per 100,000 benchmark.

Detailed Insights:

• Mental health is the second leading cause of long-term disability, undermining both individual well-being and economic productivity.
• Rights-based approaches adopted by many countries have not translated into legal reforms; only 45% of countries’ laws align with international standards.
• Care models remain institution-focused; fewer than 10% of countries have shifted to community-based services.
• Nearly 50% of psychiatric admissions are involuntary, and 20% last more than a year, raising human rights concerns.
• Integration into primary health care is progressing, with 71% of countries meeting at least 3 of 5 WHO criteria, but coverage gaps remain stark, particularly in low-income regions.
• In India, despite infrastructure development and the tele-mental health programme, stigma, funding shortfalls, and acute manpower shortages persist.

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• Community-based mental health care: Decentralised services integrated into local health systems to improve accessibility and reduce institutionalisation.
• Rights-based mental health approach: Aligning policies and laws with international human rights standards, ensuring dignity and non-discrimination.
• SDG Target 3.4.2: One-third reduction in global suicide mortality by 2030.