GENEVA — The World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Friday that an estimated 67 million people living in conflict, disaster, or displacement settings are suffering from mental health disorders, urging that mental health support be recognized as a life-saving priority in humanitarian operations.

"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 noted that while coordination mechanisms for mental health are now active in 71% of emergencies — up from less than half in 2019 — the quality and coverage of services still fall short.

He also raised alarm over a 94% drop in country requests for psychotropic medicines in early 2025 due to funding cuts, leaving millions without access to essential care.

"When humanitarian funding disappears, the impact is immediate and immense," Hanna warned, calling on governments, donors, and humanitarian responders to prioritize and invest in mental health care as part of preparedness, response, and recovery efforts. — Agencies