Delegate: Sofia Tortorella

Delegation: Federal Republic of Germany

Committee: World Heath Organization

Topic A: Mental Illness crisis around the world

Introduction

Mental health conditions are characterized by a clinically significant disturbance in an

individual’s cognition, emotional regulation, or behavior and are usually associated with
distress or impairment in important areas of functioning. There are various types of mental
illnesses, such as: anxiety disorders, depression, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, eating disorders, disruptive behavior and dissocial disorders,
neurodevelopmental disorders and many others. Those conditions have a wide range of
causes. Some of the main ones can be:
● childhood abuse, trauma, or neglect
● social isolation or loneliness
● experiencing discrimination and stigma
● bereavement (the loss of someone close)
● severe or long-term stress
● having a long-term physical health condition
● unemployment or losing a job
● homelessness or poor housing
● drug and alcohol misuse
● domestic violence, bullying or abuse (as an adult)
● significant trauma (as an adult) (military combat, a serious incident ,being the
victim of a violent crime)
● physical causes (head injury or neurological condition)

Those conditions affect not only the mental well-being and the quality of life of an
individual, they also have a crucial impact on their physical health. People with depression,
which is one of the most common forms of mental illnesses, have a 40% higher risk of
developing cardiovascular and metabolic diseases than the general population.

If unattended, those disorders may have a crucial impact on society, furthermore,

affecting homelessness, poverty, employment, safety, and the local economy, since those
illnesses create enormous social and economic costs. The lost productivity resulting from
depression and anxiety, two of the most common mental disorders, costs the global economy
US$ 1 trillion each year.
 Normally, mental illnesses have a tendency to start at a young age, consequently,
affecting the young population the most. 50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14,
and 75% by age 24. Additionally, the 2nd leading cause of death among people aged 10-14 is
suicide.

Mental illnesses have become a highly concerning topic, since there has been a
significant increase in mental health conditions worldwide due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2019, 970 million people (1 in every 8 individuals) around the world were diagnosed with
a mental disorder (anxiety and depressive disorders being the most common). In 2020
however, estimates show an increase of 26% in anxiety and 28% in major depressive
disorders in just one year. Moreover, on that same year, suicide was among the top 9 leading
causes of death for people ages 10-64. According to a scientific brief made by the World
Health Organization in 2022, regarding the early evidence of the pandemic’s impact:

The greatest increases in major depressive disorder (MDD) and anxiety

disorder (AD) were found in places highly affected by COVID-19, as
indicated by decreased human mobility and daily COVID-19 infection rates.
Females were more affected than males, and younger people, especially those
aged 20–24 years, were more affected than older adults. Many low- and
middle-income countries (LMICs) were also majorly affected.

Nearly 10.7% of the global population suffers from some sort of mental illness, and although
treatment for mental illnesses is available, most people don’t have access to it. Commonly,
85% of people who face mental disorders in low- and middle- income countries receive no
treatment at all.
This lack of accessibility of mental health care can be presented due to several factors, such
as poverty, high cost and insufficient insurance recovery, and lack of knowledge. Besides, it
is important to consider that many people who struggle with mental health issues face stigma,
discrimination and violation of human rights, since in some cultures, the previously
mentioned disorders are misunderstood and seen as a weakness or a character flaw.

In 2019, the WHO launched a Special Initiative for Mental Health, covering the
5-year period 2019-2023. A cross-country meeting was held in Geneva in January 2020, with
six early adopter countries: Bangladesh, Jordan, Paraguay, the Philippines, Ukraine, and
Zimbabwe, with Argentina, Ghana and Nepal becoming part of the initiative later on. WHOs
Special Initiative for Mental Health aims to ensure access to mental health services for 100
million more people across WHOs six regions. Regarding the initiative, the World Health
Organization Stated:

The strategies and strategies implementation plans developed in each country

are dependent on results of the initial assessments and country priorities. However,
they all include aspects of developing or improving mental health policy, and scaling
up quality services in community-based and general health settings.
The World Health Organization releases every three years a so-called “Mental Health Atlas”,
which compiles data provided by countries around the world on mental health policies,
legislation, financing, human resources, availability and utilization of services and data
collection systems, providing guidance for countries regarding the development and planning
of mental health services. It further gives an insight on the progress made towards achieving
mental health targets.

Exterior Politics

31% of the German population is diagnosed with at least one mental disorder, and
Germany currently presents a 4,32% depression rate. Although those numbers are indeed
alarming, they are not a complete disturbance when compared to the rest of the world. The
biggest issue regarding mental health in Germany is stress due to work, causing the so-called
“burnouts” (state of complete mental, physical and emotional exhaustion caused by a period
of experiencing a high level of stress). A 2022 survey by American research institute Galluph
has divulged that 40% of the peoplñe working in Germany feel stressed. Despite the
seemingly high work-related stress-rate in the country, the global stress-rate averages a 44%,
while the average for the seven largest industrial nations is 46%. Nevertheless, when
compared with the stress-rate in Europe, which represents 39%, Germany is broadly
converging.

However, this country has taken great strikes to ensure that citizens who suffer from
mental illnesses get proper treatment.
A vast support system is provided by the German government, giving the citizens
access to financial support and extensive healthcare services. In-addition, programs to ease
the transition from a mental health hospital back to everyday life and to provide jobs to
people who face mental illnesses have been implemented.

Germany currently counts with 274 mental health hospitals, 401 psychiatric units in
general hospitals, 63 mental health outpatient facilities attached to a hospital, and multiple
psychosocial counseling centers and private practices, which offer mental healthcare services
to those in need, throughout the country.

Moreover, the statutory health insurance, the Gesetzliche Krankenversicherung

(GKV), covers roughly 88% of the population, and all German residents have access to
consultation with a psychiatrist, therapy, inpatient and outpatient care, emergency services,
and medication

Germany has also dedicated extensive amounts of resources to create outreach

campaigns that promote actively visiting psychologists and testing for mental illness, further
reinforcing the idea that seeking assistance for one’s mental illness is nothing to be ashamed
of as a large portion of people suffer from them, and spreading awareness on the topic.
 Regarding the so-called burnout epidemic due to high stress-levels at work,
employees are entitled to take six weeks of employer-paid leave with a qualified doctor’s
note. If the cases are critical, it may qualify for a so-called “Kur”, where the employee is
taken to a certified health spa for up to three weeks and is given a customized nutrition plan,
exercise program, and healing treatments to prevent or manage stress-related illness and
chronic conditions. All of the costs are fully covered by the Gesetzliche
Krankenversicherung.

Solutions

The Federal Republic of Germany recognizes the mental illness crisis the world is
currently facing represents a major threat to the global population, therefore it is crucial to
take actions immediately. Consequently, this country suggests establishing a mental health
action plan, by setting objectives to improve the wellbeing of the citizens affected by those
illnesses in a vast number of countries.

Secondly, Germany envisions creating organizations to provide mental health care to

the countries in need is very pertinent and necessary, and is willing to contribute financially
and humanitarianly to this initiative.

Although remediating the damage that has already been caused, creating short-term
solutions is extremely important, Germany strongly believes the root causes of this issue
should be targeted and there must be investments on long-term solutions as well, which
would be included in the new mental health plan. The specific prevalence of certain
root-causes in the affected countries must be further discussed in order to create strategies to
tackle those issues in each country.

Finally, Germany strongly encourages other countries to create plans, supported by

the government, to ensure the mental well-being of its citizens.

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