Developing Countries Lacking When It Comes to Mental Health Treatment

According to a new report released by the World Health Organization, 3 out of every 4 mental health patients living in developing countries receive no form of treatment.

This is a very dangerous statistic, as people who have mental health issues that go untreated are at a considerable risk of hurting themselves or other people.

The WHO says that 10s of millions of people suffering from mental illness could be, and should be receiving treatment for a wide array of mental health conditions ranging from bipolar disorder to many forms of personality disorders.

The WHO is urging for an increased level of spending when it comes to governments of developing countries, saying that most countries spend less than 2% of their health budget on helping the mentally ill.

Speaking of country budgets, the WHO stated that if developing countries spend only 20 cents on each mental patient a year, it would make a huge difference in the level of care they received.

“Governments across the world need to see mental health as a vital component of primary health care. We need to change policy and practice,” said WHO Director-General Margaret Chan.