Violence, Trauma and the Mental Health Gap
We are facing a significant global gap in mental health care. In high-income countries, 35–50% of individuals with mental health needs lack access to care; in low-income countries, the estimate is closer to 90%. Among the most vulnerable groups are those who have experienced or witnessed extreme violence, including from war, torture, human trafficking, and other forms of persecution. Without support for their emotional well-being, survivors of such traumatic events may struggle with conditions like post-traumatic stress, depression, and anxiety, which can lead to further challenges such as suicidality, substance abuse, chronic illness, poverty, homelessness, and more.
The effects of psychological trauma are both immediate and long-term, impacting emotional, social, and economic aspects of individuals, families, and communities. When trauma is intense, repeated, and interpersonal—such as for individuals suffering from torture, loss, and displacement—complex trauma can result in even greater suffering. When entire populations experience large-scale violence, such as from war or genocide, collective trauma can emerge, profoundly affecting social structures and impacting future generations.
Mental health care which can adequately serve international populations faces limitations due to insufficient funding and lack of trained mental health professionals. In low-income countries, trained psychologists, social workers and other mental health staff are few. Even when a limited number of professionals exists, they often have inadequate support for working with severe trauma, and cannot provide care for the many people directly and indirectly impacted by acts against human dignity.
India has only one psychiatrist per 200,000 people.
Togo has only 4 psychiatrists in the entire country. Niger has only 3, Liberia has 1, and Sierra Leone has none.