Annan: Countries must focus on mental health

(CNN) -- United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan urged countries Friday to devote more money and attention to mental health issues.

More than 30 percent of countries have no mental health programs, and even more have no clear mental health policy, Annan noted in advance of World Health Day, which is dedicated this year to mental health.

"It is time for governments to allocate resources and establish public policy to meet mental health needs," he said in a prepared statement.

ALSO U.S. experts vow to fight stigma of depression    TRANSCRIPT Read a transcript of CNN's chat with Dr. Bernard Arons about the state of mental health care in the United States

Some 400 million people suffer from mental or neurological disorders or problems related to substance abuse, according to the World Health Organization. Those numbers are expected to increase dramatically, particularly in developing countries.

WHO is dedicating April 7 to highlighting such disorders as depression, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, alcoholism, epilepsy and mental retardation. It's scheduled to tackle the issue in May at the annual World Health Assembly.

Annan pushed for a global strategy incorporating prevention and treatment to address what he called a mental health crisis.

"Through honesty and understanding, we can break down the walls of social stigma that surround mental illness," he said.

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United Nations
WHO World Health Day
World Health Organization

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