Mental health: let's invest

For this year’s World Mental Health Day, WHO, together with partner organizations, United for Global Mental Health and the World Federation for Mental Health, is calling for a massive scale-up in investment in mental health. To encourage public action around the world, a World Mental Health Day campaign, Move for mental health: let’s invest kicked off in September.

Mental health is one of the most neglected areas of public health. Close to 1 billion people are living with a mental disorder, 3 million people die every year from the harmful use of alcohol and one person dies every 40 seconds by suicide. And now, billions of people around the world have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, which is having a further impact on people’s mental health. Yet relatively few people around the world have access to quality mental health services.

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Statement by WHO Regional Director Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari

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Stories from the field

Afghanistan ensures continuity of mental health and psychosocial support services during the COVID-19 pandemic

Iran provides mental health and psychosocial support services to people dealing with complicated grief and those experiencing loss during the COVID-19 pandemic

Jordan meets increasing demand for mental health and psychosocial support services during the COVID-19 pandemic through planning and collaboration

Kuwait launches novel initiatives to improve access to mental health care during the COVID-19 pandemic

Lebanon addresses mental health needs of all populations during the COVID-19 pandemic

Morocco state and non-state actors collaborate to provide mental health and psychosocial support services during the COVID-19 pandemic

Oman caters to people’s varying mental health needs during the COVID-19 pandemic through various remote services

Sudan ensures provision of mental health and psychosocial support services during the COVID-19 pandemic at state and federal levels through multisectoral action