WHO reports that over one billion people globally live with mental health conditions, yet persistently low government spending—about 2% of health budgets—means most go untreated, particularly in low-income countries where fewer than 10% receive care, while suicide rates remain devastatingly high.
On 2 September 2025, the World Health Organization released new data revealing that over one billion people worldwide live with mental health conditions, while national investment remains stubbornly low. Governments have allocated merely about 2 percent of their health budgets to mental health since 2017, a chronic underfunding trend.
The Mental Health Atlas 2024, covering 144 countries, found that fewer than 10 percent of affected individuals receive care in low-income nations—even though access exceeds 50 percent in higher-income countries.
In 2021, an estimated 727,000 people died by suicide, making suicide responsible for more than one in every 100 deaths globally, with approximately 20 attempts for each recorded death. In response, WHO officials stressed the urgent need for enhanced funding, stronger prioritization, and comprehensive system reforms to expand access, reduce stigma, and uphold mental health as a fundamental human right.