(MENAFN) The World Health Organization (WHO) issued a stark warning Friday, revealing that approximately 67 million people caught in conflict zones, disasters, or displacement face serious mental health disorders. The agency stressed that mental health services must be prioritized as life-saving interventions in humanitarian efforts worldwide.

"One in five people in emergencies lives with a mental health condition, yet mental health support is still treated, in too many responses, as optional," said Fahmy Hanna, WHO’s technical officer for mental health, during a UN press briefing in Geneva.

Hanna acknowledged some advancements, noting that coordination efforts are now operational in 71% of emergency situations, a significant rise from less than half in 2019. However, he emphasized that "service quality and coverage fall short," highlighting ongoing gaps in care.

Alarmingly, Hanna reported a 94% decline in requests for psychotropic medications from countries in early 2025, attributing this sharp drop to cuts in funding—leaving millions without essential treatment.

"When humanitarian funding disappears, the impact is immediate and immense," Hanna said, urging governments, donors, and aid organizations to ensure mental health care is fully integrated and adequately financed across all stages of crisis management—from preparedness to recovery.

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