A large treatment gap
1 in 4
Approximately one in four people will experience a mental-health condition during their lifetime.
Source: World Health Organization · 2010
Among people with serious mental disorders, the treatment gap is particularly large. According to the World Health Organization:
35–50%
of people with serious mental disorders in developed countries do not receive treatment.
76–85%
of people with serious mental disorders in less-developed countries do not receive treatment.
These are people who may already be facing some of the most difficult and challenging circumstances in their lives.
Why don’t people receive treatment?
The reasons are complex, but major barriers include:
- A shortage of mental-health professionals
- High treatment costs
- Stigma surrounding mental health
- Uncertainty about which treatment is appropriate
- The belief that treatment will not help
The result is a large gap between the people who need mental-health support and those who are able to receive it.