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ISLAMABAD: More than 1 billion people worldwide affected by neglected tropical diseases are experiencing a largely invisible mental health crisis, according to a new World Health Organization (<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/who-regrets-us-notification-of-withdrawal-rejects-accusations-over-covid19-response" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">WHO</a>) report. The WHO&#39;s &quot;Essential Care Package to Address Mental Health and Stigma for Persons with Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs)&quot; reveals stark findings. People with these conditions experience depression, anxiety, and suicidal behaviors at rates significantly higher than the general population. &quot;Over 1 billion people worldwide are affected by neglected tropical diseases and a similar number are affected by mental health conditions,&quot; the report noted. &quot;These independently burdensome conditions are significantly interlinked.&quot; Stigma drives the crisis as people with NTDs face discrimination and social exclusion. They encounter barriers to employment and marriage. These experiences create distress. Worry, fear, sadness and insecurity contribute to isolation and worsening&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/over-million-users-talk-about-suicide-weekly-to-chatgpt-open-ai" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">mental health</a>. The stigma prevents affected persons from seeking treatment. Many delay care or avoid it entirely, worsening both their physical rehabilitation and mental well-being. &quot;Stigma creates barriers to participation in society,&quot; the report warned, leading to decreased quality of life and delayed help-seeking. Some NTDs directly affect the brain, including human African trypanosomiasis and neurocysticercosis. Others cause visible disfigurement. Leprosy, cutaneous leishmaniasis and lymphatic filariasis make affected people particularly vulnerable to social&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/former-australia-great-gillespie-faces-backlash-over-bangladesh-t20-world-cup-exclusion" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">exclusion</a>. Women and girls suffer more severe stigma than men. Existing societal disadvantages compound the problem. Female genital schistosomiasis is wrongly associated with sexual misconduct, leading to social ostracism. Suicide rates are elevated among people with stigmatizing conditions like leprosy while increased substance use has also been documented. Addressing this crisis requires more than health services. Social, psychological and socioeconomic factors must be tackled. This ensures inclusion and improved well-being. &quot;Historically, the intersection of mental health and NTDs has been neglected,&quot; the document states. &quot;Without its adoption the broader agenda of eliminating NTDs will be hindered.&quot; The essential care package outlines evidence-based interventions. These cover prevention, identification and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/german-president-enjoys-royal-treatment-on-uk-state-visit" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">treatment</a> of mental health conditions. The package provides strategies to reduce stigma through education, social contact and advocacy. Health workers need training to screen for mental health conditions. They must provide basic psychological support. The report recommends integrating mental health indicators into routine NTD data collection. Community-level interventions matter. Peer support groups can reduce self-stigma. They promote physical and mental self-care. The WHO calls for multisectoral collaboration. This involves education,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/ai-risks-mass-unemployment-in-london-mayor" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">employment</a>, and water and sanitation services. Policy reforms must eliminate discriminatory laws and practices. These perpetuate structural stigma. &quot;A person-centered approach is essential,&quot; the report states. This ensures people&#39;s multiple specific needs are addressed effectively. WHO developed the document through collaboration. Partners included civil society organizations and representatives of people affected by NTDs. The Coalition for Research on NTDs and UK Aid provided financial support.

More than 1 billion people worldwide affected by neglected tropical diseases are experiencing a largely invisible mental health crisis, the World Health Organization warned. (WHO)

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More than 1 billion people with neglected tropical diseases face a hidden mental health crisis driven by stigma and discrimination, a new WHO report reveals. The conditions cause depression and anxiety at rates far higher than the general population.

One billion people with neglected diseases face mental health crisis warns WHO

ISLAMABAD: At least 1.2 million users on ChatGPT talk about &ldquo;suicide plan&rdquo; on the platform, its company OpenAI said this week. OpenAI has shared new data showing how often its chatbot, ChatGPT, is used in moments of deep distress. In their latest blogpost, it says that every week, about 0.15% of its users show &ldquo;explicit indicators of potential suicidal planning or intent.&rdquo; With roughly 800 million users each week, that translates into 1.2 million people talking to ChatGPT about suicide. The company also found that another 0.07 percent, about 560,000 people, show early signs of mental health emergencies like psychosis or mania. OpenAI claims that these numbers are small percentages but when considering its huge userbase, the numbers are concerning.&nbsp; Earlier this year, Arab News reported that Pakistan ranked among the top 20 countries for ChatGPT traffic, with thousands using it daily &ldquo;to vent feelings, manage anxiety, and seek late-night reassurance when friends aren&rsquo;t available.&rdquo;&nbsp; OpenAI says &ldquo;these are only estimates.&rdquo; Detecting emotional distress through text is complex and can easily be misread. But the company says it is working with doctors and psychologists to make ChatGPT more sensitive in how it responds. To improve safety, OpenAI partnered with more than 170 mental health experts worldwide.&nbsp; &ldquo;We worked with more than 170 mental health experts to help ChatGPT more reliably recognize signs of distress, respond with care, and guide people toward real-world support&ndash;reducing responses that fall short of our desired behavior by 65-80%.&rdquo; The report said. The team trained ChatGPT to recognise warning signs, provide gentle and supportive responses, and guide users toward local helplines. The company says unsafe or unhelpful replies have dropped by 65 to 80 percent after these updates. The blog also highlights a new risk: people becoming emotionally dependent on the AI itself. Some users talk to ChatGPT for comfort, spending long hours chatting when they should reach real people. OpenAI now encourages users to take breaks and seek human support when needed. The company insists ChatGPT is not a therapist. It can provide information and empathy, but it cannot replace professional care. Still, the data shows that people in crisis often reach out to what feels most accessible: an AI that listens without judgment. &ldquo;We believe ChatGPT can provide a supportive space for people to process what they&rsquo;re feeling, and guide them to reach out to friends, family, or a mental health professional when appropriate.&quot;

Artificial Intelligence

OpenAI revealed that about 1.2 million ChatGPT users weekly discuss suicide, with hundreds of thousands showing other mental health distress. The company is training its AI to detect emotional crises and direct users toward professional support

Articles tagged with "Mental Health"

One billion people with neglected diseases face mental health crisis warns WHO

Over million users talk about suicide weekly to ChatGPT: Open AI