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Mental health issues impose an enormous disease burden on societies across the world. Depression alone affects 350 million people globally and is the leading cause of disability worldwide. Despite its enormous social burden, mental disorders continue to be driven into the shadows by stigma, prejudice and fear. The issue is becoming ever more urgent in light of the forced migration and sustained conflict we are seeing in many countries of the world.
This report was written by Seth Mnookin (MIT). It is the product of almost two years of activities of a Working Group chaired and directed by Arthur Kleinman (Harvard University Asia Center). It was first presented during the keynote panel of a World Bank Group/ World Health Organization high-level meeting on making mental health a global development priority. The two-day event was held on April 13 and 14, 2016, as part of the World Bank Group/International Monetary Fund spring meetings in Washington, D.C.
