Let's invest: WHO calls for investment in sustainable mental health care

World Mental Health is observed on 10 October every year to acknowledge the mental health issues and raise awareness regarding them.

When we talk about health, we often consider our physical well being but forget how we have been feeling. Around the globe, close to 1 billion people are suffering from mental disorder and covid-19 pandemic has added to it. With these unprecedented time, the rate of suicides have increased which is an alarming situation for everyone.

Irrespective of status, power and money, people suffer from mental health issues and tend to neglect them. In very 40 seconds, one person dies by suicide and the number reaches 3 million in one year.

Yet, a majority of people does not have access to mental health care. The current covid times have made us realise the importance of physical health, but it is important to note how it has affected our mental well being. Thus, it is necessary to invest into quality mental health care.

This World Mental Health Day, the World Health Organisation (WHO), together with partner organisations, United for Global Mental Health and the World Federation for Mental Health, came up with an initiative which aims to invest in sustainable mental health care. The campaign, Mental Health: Let's Invest, aims to speed and scale to secure and apply for the necessary funds.

"The vast social and economic impact of COVID-19 highlights the critical need for all countries in the region to invest in quality mental health care, which must be part of an overall increase in health spending," Poonam Khetrapal Singh, WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia said.

"Across the region, services for mental health care, including access to psychiatric medicines, have in recent months experienced significant disruptions, which WHO has been supporting member states to overcome through innovative service delivery models such as telemedicine and doorstep deliveries," she said.

"Leaders across sectors must continue to apply a zero-tolerance approach to social stigma, verbal aggression and violence directed at health workers, and must continue to celebrate and support the health workforce," Singh further added.

The WHO will provide its continuous support to countries and partners to strengthen the mental health care in the region, the official said.