Wellcome Global Monitor 2020: Mental health
![](/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/2021-06/15928-mhs-friendship_benches_zimbabwe-2.jpg?itok=-N0YvrHx)
About this series
Through Zimbabwe’s Friendship Bench programme, trained volunteers counsel people with depression and other problems using principles from cognitive behavioural therapy – in the informal setting of a chat on a bench.
![15928-mhs-friendship_benches_zimbabwe-2 Friendship Bench by Brent Stirton, Zimbabwe](/sites/default/files/2021-06/15928-mhs-friendship_benches_zimbabwe-2.jpg)
<p>Global perceptions of living with anxiety and depression, approaches to address it and the role of science in finding new solutions.</p>
The role of science in mental health: Insights from the Wellcome Global Monitor.
The Wellcome Global Monitor: Mental Health is the world’s largest survey of how people consider and cope with anxiety and depression and explores the perceived role of science to find new solutions.
- findings about global perceptions of living with anxiety and depression, approaches to address it and the role of science, based on a survey of over 119,000 people in 113 countries.
- researchers
- funders
- policy makers
- science communicators
- public engagement practitioners
- anyone interested in mental health.
- People worldwide think mental health is important. The Wellcome Global Monitor shows 92% of people worldwide believe mental health was as important or more important than physical health across all countries.
- They are not sure that science can help. The Wellcome Global Monitor shows more people saw science as highly relevant to being able to help address infectious diseases (53%) than anxiety and depression (31%).
- A combination of different approaches are used by people globally to manage their mental health.
- Mental Health Science must rise to this challenge together, building on the evidence of what works to find next-generation treatments, and thoroughly investigate all possible solutions.
![World map that shows that about 1 in 5 people had personal experience of anxiety or depression](/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/2021-10/About%201%20in%205%20people%20had%20personal%20experience%20of%20anxiety%20or%20depression%20%281200%20x%20675%29_2021_10_19.png?itok=DYxLxli-)
![World map that shows that about 1 in 5 people had personal experience of anxiety or depression](/sites/default/files/2021-10/About%201%20in%205%20people%20had%20personal%20experience%20of%20anxiety%20or%20depression%20%281200%20x%20675%29_2021_10_19.png)
![Bar chart that shows around 9 in 10 people worldwide believe mental health is as important or more important than physical health](/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/2021-10/Around%209%20in%2010%20people%20worldwide%20believe%20mental%20health%20is%20as%20important%20or%20more%20important%20than%20physical%20health_2021_10_19.png?itok=SiS5ub88)
![Bar chart that shows around 9 in 10 people worldwide believe mental health is as important or more important than physical health](/sites/default/files/2021-10/Around%209%20in%2010%20people%20worldwide%20believe%20mental%20health%20is%20as%20important%20or%20more%20important%20than%20physical%20health_2021_10_19.png)
![bar chart to show how much people think science can explain or help to treat health problems](/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/2021-10/How%20much%20can%20science%20explain%20or%20help%20to%20treat%20health%20problems_2021_10_19.png?itok=eI3f98r6)
![bar chart to show how much people think science can explain or help to treat health problems](/sites/default/files/2021-10/How%20much%20can%20science%20explain%20or%20help%20to%20treat%20health%20problems_2021_10_19.png)
You can use any of the resources on this page when talking about the Wellcome Global Monitor. If you're sharing on social media, please use the hashtag #WMonitor.
Contact the team at W.GlobalMonitor@wellcome.org.