UN Report Highlights the Link Between Poverty and Mental Health, Urges Global Investment
UNITED NATIONS, United States (AFP) — In a compelling new report, the United Nations has shone a spotlight on the alarming connection between poverty and mental health disorders. Released on Thursday, the study underscores that individuals experiencing poverty are up to three times more susceptible to mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety compared to their wealthier counterparts.
Olivier De Schutter, the UN special rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, spearheaded the study, entitled "The Burnout Economy: Poverty and Mental Health," which warns of the chilling impacts of modern, consumption-driven lifestyles on mental well-being. The findings were presented to the UN General Assembly, painting a dire picture of the vicious cycle where "poverty causes mental health conditions, which in turn constitute an obstacle to escaping from poverty."
Statistics from the report are staggeringly clear: over 970 million people worldwide—11 percent of the global population—are grappling with some form of mental illness. Of these, approximately 280 million are living with depression, while 301 million endure anxiety. The cascading effects of these mental health challenges are profound, with suicide claiming around 700,000 lives annually, making it the fourth leading cause of death among individuals aged 15 to 29.
The interconnection between mental health and economic consequences is further evidenced in the countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Here, mental health issues account for a significant portion of disability payment requests, with young adults seeing this figure soar to 70 percent. The report highlights a drastic 25 percent rise in mental illness cases during the first year of the coronavirus pandemic, further underlining the urgent call for action.
Economically, the scars of mental health conditions are deep, resulting in global losses of $1 trillion each year. The UN study posits that investing in mental health, particularly in treating depression and anxiety, would yield "considerable" returns, suggesting that the economic benefits of such investments could be transformative on a global scale.
As the international community grapples with these findings, the report serves as a clarion call to forge a path towards social policies that prioritize mental health support and economic equity. The clear message from the UN is that addressing poverty not only uplifts communities but can also significantly alleviate the burden of mental illness, setting a foundation for healthier, more equitable societies worldwide.
