Mental disorders rank among the top ten illnesses causing disability—more than 37 percent worldwide—with depression being the leading cause of disability among people ages 15 and older, according to the Global Burden of Disease and Risk Factors published in 2006.

During APsaA's recent annual meeting held in Denver from June 20-24, the members of the association issued a positions statement, “When the War Comes Home”, regarding the mental health care needs of veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars.

The United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) today called on countries to provide a network of community health services to alleviate the hardships faced by the nearly 54 million people around the world suffering from mental disorders as well as those caring for them.

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama proposed spending hundreds of million dollars more each year for better mental health services for active duty troops and veterans.

Governments in Canada have agreed to provide proper funding for the families of soldiers fighting in Afghanistan who suffer from mental health problems. Ombudsman of the province of Ontario, Andre Marin, began an investigation two months ago into the care provided to spouses and children of soldiers who are fighting in Afghanistan, particularly those 53 families who have lost a family member.