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The World Health Organization (WHO) defines global health as "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being", and emphasises that mental health, in particular, is vital to our ability as individuals to think, emote and interact with one another59. There is a deep-rooted history of mental illness in society, with references to mental health disorders documented as early as 6500 BCE.16.
However, the once invisible field has only recently gained its due recognition on the global health stage.29 Results from the 2007 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing in Australia suggest that almost half of the national population (45.5%) will experience a mental health disorder at some point in their lifetime 4. Similarly, statistics from the 2020 Canadian Community Health Survey on Mental Health show that one in seven Canadians used a mental health service between 2016 and 2017 and go on to estimate that a third of Canadians will be affected by a mental illness at some point during their lifetime41.
Not only do these disorders impact the daily life of those suffering, but they also pose a substantial cost to society26. As of 2019, WHO reports that depression and anxiety results in an estimated $1 trillion (USD) per year due to lost productivity worldwide61. This amount does not account for the social and emotional cost placed on the friends and family of those who are suffering. Fortunately, the increased understanding and respect for mental health disorders is expected to cause an increase in international funding for mental health research and services29. However, it’s important that health care providers, government officials and leaders in global health continue to advocate for the mental health of all people and communities around the world, as professionals believe international funding and research in this field remains inadequate29. This is especially true now more than ever after the outbreak of COVID-19. A study was conducted at the start of the pandemic on residents in 194 cities in China. The results state that 54% of respondents rated the psychological impact of the COVID-19 outbreak as moderate or severe, with 29% reporting moderate to severe anxiety symptoms and 17% reporting moderate to severe...