When thinking about health challenges in low-income countries, diseases like tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other tropical diseases quickly come to mind, but few think of mental health. In fact, according to the WHO, three-quarters of those afflicted with mental disorders live in developing countries. Mental disorders are a leading cause of disability globally and represent 14 per cent of the global burden of disease. Despite the enormous health burden, it remains one of the most neglected illnesses. Research by the American Institute of Medicine (IOM) shows growing levels of mental health disorders particularly in developing countries. Violence, human rights abuses, poverty, gender inequality and low levels of education all exacerbate mental health problems. In many societies it remains a taboo to discuss it openly. More info

Fracarita International manages to restore the human dignity of thousands of men, women and children by providing mental health care in 34 psychiatric facilities in Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America.