Approximately 16.4% of Bulgaria’s population lives with a mental disorder, equivalent to around one in six people, the Health Ministry said in a statement on World Mental Health Day, October 10. Mental disorders are also the second leading cause of years lived with disability in this country.
In 2026, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) campaign is being held under the motto “Lived experiences heard: real voices, real change”. It puts people with lived experience of mental health conditions at the centre of the initiative, highlighting their knowledge as an important form of expertise. The campaign calls for their meaningful involvement in policymaking, planning and service delivery, the Ministry’s statement said.
According to the cited data, more than one billion people worldwide live with a mental disorder, with depressive and anxiety disorders among the most prevalent conditions.
This year’s campaign focuses in particular on deinstitutionalisation and greater involvement of people affected by mental health conditions in decisions that shape their lives.
As part of the campaign, WHO places particular emphasis on shifting from long-term institutional psychiatric care to effective, person-centred services. Deinstitutionalisation requires the development of accessible, high-quality community-based services and support that enable people to live with dignity and choice, while maintaining connections with their families and loved ones. At present, only 9% of countries worldwide have fully completed this process, while more than half (53%) are still at an early stage. Meanwhile, 49% of recorded admissions to psychiatric hospitals are involuntary, and 23% of hospital stays last longer than a year.
The WHO campaign also highlights the importance of recognizing knowledge gained through lived experience. The organization therefore calls for people with such experience to be involved as equal partners from the outset in developing policies and services, as well as in their implementation and evaluation.
Data from WHO’s Mental Health Atlas 2024, cited by the Ministry, show that this practice is not yet standard. Among the countries surveyed, 37% reported involving people with lived experience in training primary healthcare workers, while 45% reported working with them and with advocacy groups representing families or carers in planning, delivering or monitoring mental health promotion, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation services. According to the survey, 59% of countries said their mental health legislation had been developed following consultations with people with lived experience. Among countries with a mental health policy or plan, 80% reported that such consultations had taken place during its development.
The Health Ministry will continue working to strengthen prevention and early support, improve access to quality healthcare services, protect human rights and enhance cross-sector cooperation. At the heart of these efforts is the individual — their health, dignity, rights and ability to play an active role in decisions affecting their lives, the statement said.
About 16% of Bulgaria’s Population Lives with Mental Disorder, Ministry Says on World Mental Health Day 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-10-10 08:15:55
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