Below is an extract from the World Health Report 2001 by the World Health Organization (WHO)

The report is entitled ” New Understanding, New Hope”

Mental disorders affect one in four people. Treatment is available but not being used

Geneva, 4 October 2001— One in four people in the world will be affected by mental or neurological disorders at some point in their lives. Around 450 million people currently suffer from such conditions, placing mental disorders among the leading causes of ill-health and disability worldwide.

Treatments are available, but nearly two-thirds of people with a known mental disorder never seek help from a health professional. Stigma, discrimination and neglect prevent care and treatment from reaching people with mental disorders, says the World Health Organization (WHO). Where there is neglect, there is little or no understanding. Where there is no understanding, there is neglect.

To view a short summary of the report :

click here for English Version

https://www.who.int/whr/2001/media_centre/press_release/en/