Amplifying voices

Despite the increased interest in mental health over the past few years, the sector remains chronically underfunded and there is still a significant global unmet need for mental ill-health prevention and treatment. The global annual mental health finance gap is at least $200 billion, around 80% of people living with a mental health condition in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) are not diagnosed or treated, and less than 7% of global mental health research funding goes to prevention.

The evidence is increasingly clear that strengthening and amplifying the voices of advocates is core to mental health improvement, leading to more appropriate services, campaigns and community programmes. However, mental health advocacy is still under-resourced and most investment and focus goes to high-income countries. 

We are addressing this gap as the world’s leading network of mental health advocates & civil society organisations. Leading by example in sharing power and bringing diverse voices of expertise and lived experience from LMICs to the global stage where it matters in decision-making, both in international agencies, and regional and local governments and organisations. We consistently challenge the power dynamics in how global priorities are set.