WHO: 67 Million in Crisis Zones Suffer Mental Health Conditions

The World Health Organization has revealed that an estimated 67 million people living in conflict zones, disaster areas, and displacement situations suffer from mental health conditions. During a Geneva press briefing Friday, WHO officials emphasized that mental health support remains critically underfunded despite being a life-saving necessity in humanitarian operations.

WHO technical officer Fahmy Hanna reported that one in five individuals in emergency settings experiences mental health disorders, yet psychological support frequently receives optional treatment in humanitarian responses. While coordination mechanisms have expanded to 71% of crisis areas from less than half in 2019, service quality and coverage continue falling short of requirements.

Hanna disclosed that country requests for essential psychotropic medicines plummeted by 94% in early 2025 due to severe funding reductions, leaving millions without necessary treatment. The funding disappearance creates immediate and substantial impacts on vulnerable populations already experiencing trauma from conflict, natural disasters, and forced displacement.

The UN health agency urged governments, donors, and humanitarian responders to incorporate and fund mental health care throughout emergency preparedness, response, and recovery phases. Sustainable financing remains crucial for addressing what WHO characterizes as a global mental health emergency affecting displaced and crisis-affected populations worldwide.