Global mental health – problem and response

Abstract

According to the World Health Organization, 450 million people in the world currently suffer from some form of mental or brain disorder, including alcohol and substance misuse. Within this huge number, 121 million people suffer from depression, and more than 800 000 people die by suicide each year, with young people accounting for well over half of these. Projections from 1990 to 2020 suggest that, in future, the proportion of the global burden of all disease accounted for by mental and brain disorders will increase to 15%.