Geneve, 14 (Reuters) – Both rich and poor countries should increase their investment in the attention of mental health, in particular during economic crises when the depression and suicide rates tend to increase, said the WHO.
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One in 10 people in the world suffers from a mental health disorder, but only 1% of the global workforce receive treatment for these diseases, said the UN agency. «The resources devoted to mental health, both financial and human, remain extremely low throughout the world,» said Dr. Shekhar Saxena, director of WHO’s Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse.
In war-torn countries or countries who had suffered natural disasters, claims for mental health care will increase but the budget decreases. «Overall, the countries facing serious socio-economic challenges have increased the risk of mental health problems in their communities,» Saxena said. «The rates of depression and suicide actually increase significantly in countries experiencing an economic downturn. This is a waste of valuable lives that a country should protect maintaining the mental health care of these people during these times of stress, «he added.
There is also great inequality in mental health care. Nearly half of the world population lives in countries with less than one psychiatrist per 100,000 people, while in high-income countries the rate is one in 2,000, according to the Mental Health Atlas 2014 WHO. «Many rich countries devote sufficient resources, but the use of these resources is not optimal. Too many efforts are being made by people who are inpatients in psychiatric hospitals and other under ward and little effort is put in community care, «said Saxena
