World missed most of the 2020 mental health targets: WHO
World missed most of the 2020 mental health targets: WHO
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The World Health Organisation (WHO) in its report released on Friday stated that the world missed most of the 2020 mental health targets, and has failed to provide people with the mental health services they need, at a time when the Covid-19 pandemic is highlighting a growing need for mental health support. In 2020, just 51 % of WHO's 194 member states reported that their mental health policy or plan was in line with international and regional human rights instruments - way short of the 80 % target.

The Mental Health Atlas report, released ahead of the World Mental Health Day on October 10, includes data from 171 countries. It indicted that in spite of increase in attention given to mental health in recent years, it is yet to result in a scale-up of quality mental services that is aligned with needs. Only 52 % of countries met the target relating to mental health promotion and prevention programmes, yet well below the 80 % target.

Reduction in the rate of suicide by 10 %, was the only target met, but even then, only 35 countries had a stand-alone prevention strategy, policy or plan, said the report released every three years.

WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said in a statement that "It is extremely concerning that, despite the evident and increasing need for mental health services, which has become even more acute during the Covid-19 pandemic, good intentions are not being met with investment, adding that "We must heed and act on this wake-up call and dramatically accelerate the scale-up of investment in mental health, because there is no health without mental health."

 

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