Mental Health Crisis in 2026: 1B+ Untreated

The global mental health crisis remains severe: WHO’s 2025 reporting says more than 1 billion people are living with a mental disorder, and most people still do not receive effective care. WHO says access is especially poor in low-income countries, where fewer than 10% of affected people receive care, compared with over 50% in higher-income countries. WHO also reports that only 71% of countries meet at least three of five criteria for integrating mental health into primary care, while fewer than 10% have fully transitioned to community-based care models. The system-level gaps remain large. WHO says mental health needs are high but responses are insufficient, with major shortages in workforce, resources, and quality of care. In the United States, NAMI reports that 52.1% of adults with mental illness received treatment in 2024, and 120+ million people live in designated Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas. WHO has also emphasized that depression and anxiety are the most common disorders globally, while the service gap is still wide even in high-income countries.