Training Module on the Right to Mental Health for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) PART II. CIVIL SOCIETY AND MENTAL HEALTH: Contributions and Potentials A. The Global Perspective on Mental Health Good mental health is essential for people to lead healthy, productive lives which is a cornerstone for strong economies. The burden of mental ill-health is significant. The cost of mental health conditions (and related consequences) is projected to rise to $6 trillion globally by 2030, from $2.5 trillion in 2010, according to a study published by the World Economic Forum and the Harvard School of Public Health. That would make the cost of poor mental health greater than that of cancer, diabetes, and respiratory ailments combined. Now, as people around the world contend with stress and social restrictions related to COVID-19, mental health has become a particular area of concern for policymakers and health professionals. The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) include target 3.4, “to reduce by 2030 by one-third premature mortality from noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and promote mental health and well-being.” B. The Landscape of Mental Health in the Philippines Mental, neurological, and substance use conditions including depression, anxiety disorders, psychosis, epilepsy, dementia, and alcohol-use disorders pose a significant challenge in the Philippines. In 2017, the two most common mental health conditions, anxiety and depression, accounted for over 800,000 years of life lived with disability in the country, leading not only to vast human suffering but also to economic losses due to the impact on the workforce productivity. Reported suicide rates in the Philippines have been increasing over the past several decades, particularly among young people, with the latest estimate (in 2015) indicating 17 % of young people aged 13- 15 had attempted suicide. In 2018, R.A. 11036 or The Mental Health Act was ratified. 23