world mental health day 2025: WHO urges global action on mental well-being in times of crisis

As the world marks World Mental Health Day 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) has called for stronger global commitment to mental health support, particularly for people living in humanitarian emergencies. This year’s theme, “Mental Health in Humanitarian Emergencies,” highlights the urgent need to integrate mental health care into disaster response, conflict zones, and public health crises.

Over one billion people worldwide currently live with mental health conditions, according to WHO. Anxiety and depression top the list, yet only a fraction of those affected receive the help they need. The organization warns that mental health challenges often deepen in times of war, displacement, and natural disasters, leaving millions vulnerable and without access to proper care.

Despite growing awareness, global investment in mental health remains critically low. Statistics show that, on average, countries allocate just 2% of their health budgets to mental health services — a figure that has barely improved in the last decade. WHO says this underfunding leaves many people in low- and middle-income countries with little or no access to support, even though mental disorders are now the second leading cause of disability worldwide.

“Mental health is not a luxury — it is a human right,” said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in a statement. “During crises, people need food, shelter, and safety — but they also need hope, compassion, and psychological support.”

The 2025 campaign shines a light on people affected by wars, displacement, and humanitarian disasters, urging governments to include mental health and psychosocial care in emergency relief plans. WHO reports that more than 123 million people were forcibly displaced as of late 2024 — a record high — many of whom now live in conditions that compound trauma and stress.

Experts emphasize that recovery from crisis is not complete without mental healing. They advocate for training health workers to provide psychological first aid, increasing funding for community-based care, and tackling the stigma that still surrounds mental illness.

In recent years, some nations have made progress by integrating mental health services into primary health care and community programs. However, WHO insists that more must be done to ensure continuity of care, particularly in fragile settings where medical systems are already overstretched.

As the world observes World Mental Health Day, the message is clear — mental health matters every day, but especially in moments of crisis. It is not just about surviving disasters, but about ensuring that minds and communities are strong enough to rebuild, recover, and rise again.