Cause profile: mental health

Abstract

Mental illness may be a more pressing global problem than is commonly recognized, potentially causing at least as much suffering as global poverty. While the proportion of the world’s population living in absolute poverty is shrinking, the prevalence of severe mental illness is rising. Mental illness is also relatively neglected; for instance, a third of developing countries have no dedicated mental health budget. Effective interventions for mental illness already exist, including psychotherapy and medication, and more effective interventions are being developed. A preliminary cost-effectiveness analysis suggests that the mental health charity StrongMinds may do more good per dollar than GiveDirectly, a GiveWell top charity. Further research is needed to compare StrongMinds to other top global health and development charities, as well as to determine the most cost-effective mental health interventions. – AI-generated abstract.