Mental Health
Global suicide rates remain high.
Mental health is a basic human right and a core element of well-being and sustainable development. Though cost-effective strategies exist, mental health remains under-prioritized. From 2000 to 2021, global suicide deaths dropped from 762,000 to 717,000. Men face more than double the suicide risk of women, with the Americas showing the only regional increase and the widest gender gap.
Insights
Political: Despite commitments to the WHO Mental Health Action Plan, most countries fall short on implementation due to limited leadership, coordination, and financing.
Economic: Mental health impacts productivity, social protection, and education outcomes—yet services remain underfunded and fragmented.
Social: Early-life adversity, violence, stigma, and exclusion increase vulnerability. Supportive environments and social connectedness are key protective factors.
Technological: Scalable solutions such as digital self-help and task-shared counselling offer promise—but require quality assurance and equity in access.
Legal: Rights-based care frameworks and protections in schools, prisons, and workplaces are needed to prevent discrimination and coercion.
Environmental: Climate change, displacement, and economic shocks are escalating mental health risks, especially in humanitarian and low-resource settings.
Reflective Questions
How might we embed mental health promotion and care within all public systems—from schools to workplaces to social protection?
What models can help scale community-based mental health services?
How can mental health be reframed from a clinical issue to a shared societal responsibility tied to equity, sustainability, and development?
Related Insight Cards
References:
World Health Organization, 2021. Global health estimates 2021. Geneva: World Health Organization. Available at: https://www.who.int/data/globalhealth-estimates
World Health Organization, 2022. Mental health: strengthening our response. Geneva: World Health Organization. Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-strengthening-our-response
