Abstract

The global burden of mental health conditions is substantial, affecting the quality and length of life of billions of people worldwide and contributing significantly to health-related costs to patients and their families, governments, health systems, and payers.¹ Recognizing the urgent need for action on mental health, the World Health Organization has launched a 5-year (2019-2023) special initiative on mental health to address the increasing prevalence of mental health disorders and their profound societal impact.² Recent data suggest that disability-adjusted life-years attributable to mental disorders in 2019 could represent as much as 16% of global disability-adjusted life-years.¹ In the United States, indicators of adolescent mental health have worsened significantly over the past decade, with 40% of high-school students reporting depressive symptoms and a significant increase in the percentage of youth who seriously considered suicide.³ Recent data also point to the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health, with 4 in 10 American adults reporting symptoms of anxiety and depression in early 2021.⁴