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Research

Mental health, access to care and cost.

Worldwide

Mental health is a global concern that no single country can address alone

1 bn+people live with a mental health condition. This corresponds to about one in eight. WHO, September 2025
70 to 92%go untreated of people with a mental health condition receive no adequate treatment. WHO, Mental Health Atlas 2024
9%with depression receive treatment that meets minimum standards of adequacy. WHO, September 2025
Top causeof disability mental health conditions rank among the leading causes worldwide. WHO, September 2025

Source: World Health Organization, World Mental Health Today and Mental Health Atlas 2024, both published on 2 September 2025.

Young people

Mental health among young people

These figures informed the founding of SafeHere.

37%of 15 to 19 year olds report mental health problems.National health survey, 2022
1 in 11have attempted suicide in the same age group.Unisanté study, 2023
29%tell no one do not speak to anyone about it.National health survey, 2022
19 to 29%young women, 15 to 24 report psychological distress: 2017 compared with 2022. National health survey
2021the year it overtook injury mental health became the leading cause of hospital admission among young people, ahead of physical injury for the first time. National health statistics
2025still above pre-pandemic levels children, adolescents and young adults show more depressive symptoms than before the pandemic.Obsan, National Health Report 2025

Cost of care

The difference between care that is covered and care that is affordable

Psychological therapy is reimbursed on medical prescription. That is accurate, but it captures only part of the difficulty.

150 to 200per session CHF for 50 to 60 minutes at current market rates.
+10%after the deductible the full annual deductible is paid first, followed by one tenth of all further costs.
40sessions are covered before the case is reassessed.
1 in 10go without forgo psychological care for financial reasons. Federal Statistical Office

These figures should be read in sequence. With a high annual deductible, the first two and a half thousand francs of care are paid by the person who needs it. For someone on an average income, this is a cost that can be planned for; for someone already in financial difficulty, it means that care does not take place. Such cases are never recorded as refusals, because no request was ever made.

Spending continues to rise: approximately CHF 3.2 billion is spent on mental health care through compulsory insurance. This is an increase of 6% within one year and corresponds to about 7.5% of total health spending. (Obsan and the federal health office, 2024.)