Mental Health Day: Talking about the health of our mental faculty

It’s #WorldMentalHealthDay! As I gleaned through the twitter page of the WHO, I gathered some points which I think are useful for all to consider especially those who are into policy. Mental health is for us all because it is just a matter of the degree of the mental depravity that each person experiences. The grace of God makes the difference. 

The following holds; 

• -Close to 1 billion people have a mental disorder
• -Depression is a leading cause of illness & disability
• -1 person dies every 40 seconds from suicide
• -3 million people die every year due to harmful use of alcohol.

Health systems haven’t yet adequately responded to the burden of mental disorders. In low- & middle-income countries, more than 75% of people with mental health conditions receive no treatment for their condition at all.

#MentalHealth conditions can be treated, yet in some countries, there are very few psychiatrists.

Poor #mentalhealth is the leading cause of disability in young people, and accounts for a large proportion of disease during adolescence. #Suicide is the third leading cause of death in 15-19-year-olds.

Poor #mentalhealth has an impact on risk-taking behaviour in young people, including:

Development assistance for #mentalhealth has never exceeded 1% of total development assistance for health.

Depression and anxiety alone cost the global economy US$ 1 trillion each year. On average, countries spend less than 2% of their national health budgets on #mentalhealth.

• regular health checks of people with severe mental disorders

can prevent premature death.

The quality of life of people living with conditions such as autism and dementia can be greatly improved when their caregivers receive appropriate training.

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted or halted critical mental health services in 93% of countries worldwide while the demand for mental health is increasing, according to a new WHO survey. 130 countries reported widespread disruptions to #mentalhealth services due to #COVID19:

• 60% for vulnerable people
• 67% to counseling & psychotherapy
• 35% to emergency interventions
• 30% to access for medications
• 3/4 to school & workplace services

#COVID19 has increased demand for #mentalhealth services.

• Bereavement
• Isolation
• Loss of income &
• fear

are triggering mental health conditions or exacerbating existing ones. Many people may be facing increased levels of alcohol & drug use, insomnia & anxiety.

WHO has previously highlighted the chronic underfunding of mental health: prior to the pandemic, countries were spending less than 2 percent of their national health budgets on mental health, and struggling to meet their populations’ needs.

#Becounted