October 10th is World Mental Health Day, a global event to raise awareness about mental health conditions.
This year’s theme is “Mental health in an unequal world,” with a focus on the gap between the demand for mental health services and access to those services.
- Stigma, discrimination and human rights abuses of people with mental health conditions remain widespread.
- The gap between demand for mental health services and supply is substantial.
- Health and other frontline workers, students, people living alone, and those with pre-existing mental health conditions have been particularly affected during the pandemic.
- While many living in wealthy countries also struggle to get access to the services they need, the number of mental health workers in high-income countries is more than 40 times higher than in low-income countries.