Global Mental Health: Fixing Structural Inequities, Not Just Symptoms

Charles Ogunnowo -Olorunfemi
Jul 1
3 min read

Mental health is not just a personal struggle—it’s a reflection of the world we live in.

From Lagos to London, Manila to Minneapolis, individuals and communities are facing rising levels of anxiety, depression, burnout, and trauma. But while therapy and medication are crucial, they cannot treat what the world keeps inflicting. Social and structural forces shape Global Mental health, and until we address those, we are treating symptoms while the causes keep growing.

Based on our experience at Global Villaje Media will discuss how we can improve Global Mental Health management by fixing the structural Inequalities and not just symptoms in our communities.

Global Mental Health and Structural Inequalities

Global Mental Health Is Political and Structural

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), people exposed to poverty, discrimination, violence, or disability are far more likely to experience mental health conditions. Why? Because trauma doesn't happen in a vacuum—it happens when systems fail to protect or empower.

Dr. Dainius Pūras, former UN Special Rapporteur on health, put it plainly:

“Mental health is not simply a medical issue—it’s a social justice issue.”

Inequality = Stress = Illness

In Nigeria, millions of young people face joblessness despite education. Constant uncertainty leads to chronic stress and anxiety. In the U.S., racial discrimination has created generational trauma in Black and Indigenous communities. As the Mental Health Foundation (UK) explains, “Racism is a mental health issue because it causes trauma.”

Globally, people in low-income settings are three times more likely to suffer depression or anxiety than the wealthy. A UN report in 2023 called this “a tidal wave of mental ill-health driven by economic insecurity and social neglect.”

In Gaza, Sudan, and other war-torn regions, displacement and violence cause PTSD, depression, and deep psychological scars. WHO reports that 1 in 5 people who’ve lived through conflict suffer long-term mental disorders—yet few receive care.

Mental Health Therapy Helps—but Justice Heals

Mental health treatment matters. But as the research shows, even the best counselling or medication won’t work if someone is still facing eviction, racism, or unsafe work.

A study comparing psychiatric wards and community-based programs found that people thrived more when they were supported to rebuild their lives—through education, relationships, and purpose—not just medication.

Real healing requires:

Stable housing
Dignified work
Fair education
Freedom from discrimination
Access to safe, stigma-free care

As Dr. Gabor Maté, a leading expert in trauma, says:

“The question isn’t what’s wrong with you. It’s what happened to you—and what’s still happening around you.”

Structural Inequities in Global Mental Health

In Brazil, favelas lack consistent healthcare, and stigma around mental illness runs deep. People turn to faith groups for support, but access to therapy is rare.
In India, caste-based discrimination and gender violence fuel trauma among millions. Suicide is one of the leading causes of death among young women.
In the UK, Black individuals are four times more likely to be sectioned under mental health laws—reflecting institutional racism rather than greater illness.
In refugee camps across the Middle East and Africa, children grow up without safety, schooling, or play. Their trauma is both immediate and lifelong.

This isn’t accidental—it’s systemic. We can’t fix people without fixing the systems hurting them.

How to Tackle Global Mental Health Structural Inequalities

Change doesn’t start only in parliaments or conferences. It starts in communities like yours.

Here’s what we can all do:

Build Supportive Communities: Start local. Peer support groups, safe spaces, community gardens, or even informal “check-in” circles help break isolation.

Advocate for Basic Needs as Mental Health Needs: Mental health is about more than therapy. It’s about food, jobs, and shelter. Support local housing initiatives, fair wages, and inclusive policies.

Fight Stigma Every Day: Speak up. Share accurate information. Challenge harmful stereotypes. Use correct pronouns. Listen without judgment. These daily actions change culture.

Practice Empathy and Collective Self-Care: Model healthy boundaries, rest, and social connection. Encourage workplaces to prioritize wellness. Offer kindness to someone struggling—it can be life-changing.

Hope Through Collective Action

At Global Villaje Media, we believe that storytelling can spark justice. We are committed to amplifying voices often ignored and highlighting the structural roots of distress—not just its symptoms.

As the WHO reminds us:

“Mental health care rooted in human rights and social equity must be the global goal.”

We agree.

We must move from asking individuals to cope better, to asking societies to care better. That’s how we prevent illness before it starts. That’s how we build dignity. That’s how we heal—together.

Mental Health is a Shared Responsibility

Real change comes when we see mental health as a shared responsibility. Every conversation, every policy, and every act of empathy matters. In a fairer world: