In the world, there is on average less than one mental health professional per 10,000 people, according to the Mental Health Atlas 2014, recently published by the World Health Organization (WHO).
According to a statement by the Pan American Health Organization, the report recognizes the existence of enormous geographical inequalities in access to mental health services
"On average globally, there is less than one mental health worker per 10,000 people. In low and middle-income countries rates fall below 1 per 10,000 people, whereas in high income countries the rate is 1 per 2000 people."
The figures reflect the fact that almost one in every 10 people on the planet suffers from a mental illness, but only 1% of the world’s health professionals offer services in this sphere. Almost half the world’s population lives in countries where there is less than one psychiatrist per 10,000 inhabitants.
On the other hand, the report highlights that international spending for mental health care remains considerably low, with the majority of money directed toward hospitals and psychiatrists, which provide care to only small portion of those most in need.
According to the Atlas report, “countries are making progress on creating policies, plans, and laws for mental health, which provide the bedrock for good governance and service development… However, most of the policies and laws are not fully in line with international human rights instruments, implementation is often weak, and persons with mental disorders and family members are frequently only marginally involved in their development.
Adequate training and preparation of mental health professionals, fundamentally those linked to primary healthcare, is vital to strengthening their ability to diagnose and treat people suffering from severe and common mental illnesses.
The document recognizes that despite the fact that since 2011 the number of people suffering from a mental illness has risen by 35%, inadequacies continue to be seen across the entire sector.
The situation represents a challenge given the increasing number of people suffering from dementia related diseases such as Alzheimers or greater demands for drug rehabilitation services.
