WHO prioritizes mental health

WHO's World Health Report focuses on mental health for the first time. Theme: 'Mental health — new understanding, new hope'.

Mental health has moved from a marginal topic to a global public health priority. The gap between treatment needs and available services remains enormous: according to WHO, 75% of people with mental disorders in low- and middle-income countries receive no treatment.

The 1990s were a turning point for psychology: the rise of evidence-based psychotherapy, the first neuroimaging studies in clinical contexts, and growing recognition of the effects of childhood trauma on adult health.

Significance: This milestone significantly contributed to the development of psychology as a science and profession, influencing research, clinical practice, or public policy.