Mental health has become one of the most urgent public health issues of the 21st century. Recent statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO) indicate that more than one billion individuals globally live with mental illnesses. Anxiety, depression, and other psychiatric disorders not only cause immense human distress but also carry a massive economic burden, both on individuals and societies as a whole. Where progress has been made in a number of countries to enhance mental health policies and programs, global services remain dramatically underfunded and fragmented, denying access to care for millions.

Mental illnesses are ubiquitous, cutting across all age, gender, and economic strata groups. Anxiety and depression are among the most prevalent disorders, and their effects extend far beyond emotional pain. They are the second global cause of long-term disability, costing money in healthcare, decreasing productivity in the workforce, and lowering quality of life. The fiscal hit is astronomical: depression and anxiety alone have been estimated to cost the international economy $1 trillion each year.

The WHO's recent publications, World Mental Health Today and Mental Health Atlas 2024—set both positive trends and important gaps in mental health services. They are powerful resources to inform national plans and influence the international conversation leading up to the 2025 United Nations High-Level Meeting on noncommunicable diseases, with a focus on mental health and well-being.

Rising Mental Health Concerns Among Young People

Younger populations face particularly intense mental health issues. Gen Z, in particular, is under unprecedented stress from social media, school pressures, and the aftereffects of the COVID-19 pandemic. A 2023 Harvard survey identified that 44% of young adults between ages 18–25 felt like they don't count to others. Further, CDC data indicate that 40% of U.S. high school students indicated they felt sad or hopeless most or all days, and 20% attempted seriously to take their own life. These figures highlight the imperative for accessible and effective mental health care among young people.

Social disruption during the pandemic, from remote learning issues to extended isolation, intensified loneliness and anxiety. Even after lockdowns lifted, many young people still face uncertainty about their futures, academic stress, and the mental health impacts of disrupted childhood or adolescence.

WHO Mental Health Report: One in Every 100 Deaths Worldwide is Caused by Suicide

Suicide continues to be a tragic consequence of mental illness. In 2021 alone, it is estimated that 727,000 individuals across the globe died by suicide, which is a major cause of death among youth. WHO experts point out that although age-specific rates for suicide have fallen worldwide by 35% from 2000 to 2021, efforts are too slow to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal to cut suicide rates by a third by 2030. The trend indicates only 12% reduction will be realized.

Alarming as it is, almost three-quarters of all suicides are in low- and middle-income countries, where there are limited mental health resources and stigma discourages individuals from going for help. Even in wealthier countries, timely and effective care is not always accessible.

Investment Gap in Mental Health Services

Investment in mental health services globally is not increasing commensurate with growing demand. Median government expenditure on mental health averages only 2% of overall health expenditures—unchanged since 2017. Inequities between nations are glaring: high-income countries can spend as much as $65 per capita on mental health, and low-income nations can spend as little as $0.04. Median numbers of mental health professionals globally stand at only 13 per 100,000 people, and have made low- and middle-income nations critically short.

Access to treatment is most problematic in rural and underserved populations. In the United States, 65% of rural counties have no practicing psychiatrist, and nearly a third have no mental health professionals. Suburban residents, while otherwise better supplied, also experience affordability hurdles, insurance gaps, and cultural stigma, reducing meaningful access to care.

Progress and Persistent Gaps

There has been some progress. In the past two years, most countries have revised their mental health policies, improved emergency preparedness, and incorporated rights-based practices. More than 80% of nations now offer mental health services in emergencies, compared to 39% in 2020. Mental health integrated into primary care is making headway, and telehealth services are increasingly available.

Yet, these developments are insufficient to meet the global burden. Fewer than 10% of countries have fully transitioned to community-based care models, and inpatient care continues to rely heavily on psychiatric hospitals. Many patients experience long-term hospitalization, often involuntarily, highlighting the urgent need for systemic reform.

Why Addressing the Root Causes Is Important?

Mental health is a function of the complex interplay of social, environmental, and biological elements. Social media use, cyberbullying, and the pressure to maintain a "perfect" life on social media can contribute to exacerbating depression and anxiety. Economic insecurity, discrimination, trauma, and the residual effect of global crises such as the pandemic further add to the burden. Resolution of these foundational issues demands intersectoral collaboration—healthcare, education, social services, and policy.

Simple Tips for Improving Your Mental Health Everyday

Although reform on a wide scale is called for, people can also take actions to augment their mental health:

Stay Connected: Regular contact with others reduces loneliness.

Prioritize Physical Health: Exercise, healthy nutrition, and sleep contribute heavily to mood and cognitive performance.

Limit Digital Overload: Cut back on social media time, especially doomscrolling or comparing yourself to idealized models.

Practice Mindfulness: Meditation, journaling, or breathing exercises can reduce stress and enhance emotional resilience.

Get Professional Assistance: Therapy, counseling, or support groups provide direction and management techniques.

Foster Open Discussions: Open discussion of feelings within families, schools, or the workplace decreases stigma and promotes early intervention.

Crisis Hotlines: Familiarize yourself with local or national hotlines. For example, Kosovo provides Lifeline at 0800 12345 between the hours of 10:00 AM to 2:00 AM every day for crisis intervention.

The WHO underlines that mental health services should be addressed as a human right. Radical change to mental health services requires fair financing, legal changes to ensure human rights, and continued investment in the development of the workforce. Community-based, person-focused care models are essential to increase access and enhance outcomes. Multilevel collaboration between governments, NGOs, and international health agencies is required to address the breadth and depth of the crisis.

The current statistics present a grim picture: mental illness disorders are growing more quickly than world population growth, suicide is a leading cause of death among young people, and treatment access is starkly uneven. Unless drastic action is taken, the economic, social, and human toll will keep piling up.

Mental illness is not only a matter of health; it is a societal and economic problem that needs to be addressed immediately. Over one billion individuals are impacted globally, and younger generations disproportionately so. Progress has been made in policy, integration, and emergency response, yet never before has systemic reform and investment been as urgent a need. There is a role for every government, community, and individual in opening up access, decreasing stigma, and placing mental health as a top global public health priority.

Colleen Hoover, the best-selling author of 'Regretting You' and 'Verity', has revealed that she has undergone treatment for cancer.

On January 12, Hoover announced via her Instagram Stories that she has one more day of radiation left at Texas Oncology.

"Second to last day of radiation," she captioned the post on her Instagram Stories. "I wish I could blame my hair and facial expressions on @Texas.Oncology, but they've been great. Hope you never need them, but highly recommend them."

In December 2025, the 46-year-old writer wrote on her Facebook page that she had been diagnosed with cancer and had undergone surgery. The film producer also noted that she would only need radiation, but not chemotherapy as a treatment plan.

Hoover said she had been in Canada filming Reminds of Him when she noticed she “had recurring health issues that I continued to put off until the movie was finished" and a check-up revealed that she had developed cancer.

What Kind Of Cancer Does She Have?

While she is yet to reveal which kind of cancer she is receiving treatment for, Hoover has confirmed it was not caused by family genes, HPV or excessive hormones.

In a Facebook post from January 9, she noted that the reason for her illness is 'more than likely' to be environmental/lifestyle, which can be credited to a lack of exercise, poor diet and stress.

"I’m happy and grateful to be alive but I hate vegetables. I hate when I have to get off the couch. I hate sweating. I hate when science is right. If you see me at the gym, don’t even tell me good job. If you see me at a restaurant eating grilled chicken and drinking water, I’m probably real mad about it," she wrote in a heartfelt moment.

Why Has Hoover Been Missing From Public Eye?

Hoover's health updates and cancer treatment come amid a series of cancelled public events. In October 2025, she announced she would not attend the premiere of Regretting You, her latest movie adaptation.

In a sentimental Instagram post, she told her fans: "I’m super bummed, but am having an unavoidable surgery and can’t travel for a while,” Hoover wrote in her Instagram post at the time. I’ll live vicariously through you guys. So sad to miss this movie release and premiere, but so grateful to all the actors and the team who put this together.”

Woman Down is Hoover’s next book release set for January 13. However, the author has had to tell fans that a book-signing tour has not been set up yet and she will not be meeting with the public for now.

“I wanted to make this post and be transparent about why that is. I’m not saying I won’t be up to doing at least one signing, but I just won’t know until I know," she said.

Meanwhile, throughout 2025, production on her hit novel, Verity, has begun in 2025, with Anne Hathaway and Josh Hartnett, being photographed during scenes last February. Additionally, her third movie adaptation, Reminders of Him, is also set to hit theaters on March 13, 2026.

It remains unknown if she will be attending the premiere for Reminders of Him.

Barbie. A name too familiar for everyone growing up, now Mattel Studio has launched its first autistic Barbie. This is after Greta Gerwig's 2023 blockbuster movie that introduced the concept of diverse characters of Barbie, that Mattel launched its first Barbie with type 1 diabetes. The studio is definite about creating a diverse range of Barbie character, as an animated Barbie film too is in the development.

Why Is The Launch Of Autistic Barbie Important?

Autistic Barbie is the latest addition to Barbie's Fashionistas range, which is designed so more children can "see themselves in Barbie". The Barbie is created in collaboration with the US charity the Autistic Self Advocacy Network. The Barbie is designed to represent the ways autistic children may have experienced, including the way they communicate.

Barbie With Autism: What Are Her Features?

The Barbie's eyes gaze slightly to one side, which could represent how some autistic people avoid direct eye contact. The Barbie also comes with completely bendable elbows and wrists, which enables her repetitive physical movements such as stimming and hand-flapping that help people with autism to process sensory information, or even express excitement.

She also holds a pink fidget spinner on her finger, which helps her reduce her stress, wears noise-cancelling headphones, also in pink, to reduce sensory overload, and carries a pink tablet with symbol-based augmentative and alternative communication buttons on its screen that helps with her everyday communication.

Barbies earlier came in one-size-fit-all, often lacking the diversity and representation, this Barbie, however, wears a loose-fitting purple pinstripe A-line dress. This has minimized fabric to skin contact, and her shoes have flat soles that promotes stability and ease of movements.

Read: Hundreds Of US Children Have Type 1 Diabetes, Now Their Barbie Has It Too

Barbie's Representation Matters

The first Barbie came in 1959, and until 2019, there were no dolls with disabilities. Now, there are Barbies with diabetes, blind dolls, and Barbies with wheelchairs, Down syndrome, prosthetic limb, vitiligo, and hearing aids. There is also a Ken doll with a prosthetic leg, and another one who uses a wheelchair with a ramp, and one with hearing aids.

Jamie Cygielman, the global head of dolls at Mattel while announcing the autistic Barbie said, "Barbie has always strived to reflect the world kids see and the possibilities they imagine, and we’re proud to introduce our first autistic Barbie as part of that ongoing work. The doll helps to expand what inclusion looks like in the toy aisle and beyond because every child deserves to see themselves in Barbie."

She also added: “We engaged with the autistic community throughout the design process, always mindful that autism is experienced differently by every individual and is not always visible. The elements of this doll reflect how some people on the spectrum may experience and express the world, and we hope that by partnering with influential voices within the community, Barbie can continue to showcase a broader range of authentic experiences.”

What Is Autism?

As per the American Psychiatric Association, ASD is a complex developmental condition involving persistent challenges with social communication, restricted interests and repetitive behavior. While autism is considered a lifelong condition, the need for services and supports because of these challenges varies among individuals with autism.

As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated one in 36 children have been identified with ASD.

The Department of Health (DOH) reported 411 measles infections in Philippines' Northern Mindanao in 2025, which was a 11% increase from 371 cases in 2024. Health officials are now warning people that the situation may get worse in 2026, as rate of unvaccinated children in the region also rise.

In 2025, 75% of the patients were unvaccinated.

In order to prevent outbreaks, DOH-Northern Mindanao and local health offices said that they will be deploying teams to administer Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccines to children and people aged six to 59.

“There are (measles) outbreaks in various parts of the country because of low (immunization) coverage and that includes our region,” said Germaine Labadan, head of the DOH-X Family Health Cluster.

In 2025, only 56.7% of Northern Mindanao's eligible population received MR shots, which led to a herd immunity well below the target of 95%.

Cagayan de Oro, a highly urbanized city, recorded the region’s highest measles-rubella (MR) coverage at 87.21%, while Bukidnon lagged at 49.71%. Coverage in other areas remained low, with Misamis Oriental at 51.87%, Misamis Occidental at 52.05%, Iligan at 52.55%, and Camiguin at 53.73%.

As part of this year’s Measles-Rubella Supplemental Immunization Activity (MR-SIA), children will be given booster MR vaccines along with Vitamin A supplements. The 21-day campaign will run from January 19 to February 13.

“This is open to all eligible, regardless of the immunization status of the child because the vaccine serves as a booster,” Labadan said. This also includes children who completed the first and second doses. “Parents may present the immunization booklet, but it is not necessary because all will be given a new one,” she said.

What Is Measles?

Measles, also known as rubeola, is a highly contagious viral illness that typically causes fever, cough, a runny nose, red and watery eyes, and a distinctive red, blotchy rash that usually begins on the face and spreads downward. The virus spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes and can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia or brain inflammation. Despite its severity, measles is preventable through a safe and effective vaccine, as per the Mayo Clinic.

How Contagious Is Measles?

Measles is among the most contagious diseases in the world. The virus spreads through airborne droplets that can linger in the air or on surfaces for hours. Up to 90% of unvaccinated people who are exposed to measles will become infected. A single infected person can pass the virus to an estimated 12 to 18 others through close contact or shared spaces. People can transmit the virus days before symptoms become obvious and continue spreading it after the rash appears, according to the World Health Organization.

How Long Is Someone Contagious With Measles?

Someone infected with measles can spread the virus from four days before the rash develops to four days after it appears. The virus spreads so efficiently that about 90% of people who are unvaccinated or have never had measles will become infected after being exposed.

In November, Canada lost its measles elimination status following a significant outbreak, according to the Pan American Health Organization, which works closely with the World Health Organization.

“It’s important to say that all the other 34 countries in the region, they keep their certification as measles-free,” said PAHO/WHO Director Dr. Jarbas Barbosa at the time, as per NPR News.

U.S. health officials have also warned that genetic links between outbreaks in different states suggest continued spread.

“The trajectory that we’re looking at now is that we do anticipate more cases well into January,” Bell said. “What that means for us nationally in terms of how they are defining our designation in this country as having eliminated measles is unclear.”