Mental health and equity: Overcoming barriers to accessing care

Mental health is essential for individual and community well-being, yet access to psychological services remains a privilege for many. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 1 in 8 people worldwide lives with a mental disorder, but over 70% do not receive the treatment they need due to economic, geographic, and social barriers. This inequality is evident globally, underscoring the urgency of closing these gaps with effective solutions.

Existing barriers to mental health services

Socioeconomic Barriers

In Colombia, 27% of the population lives in poverty, limiting access to private care. Public health services exist, but they are underfunded and wait times can stretch for months.
Across Latin America, mental health spending accounts for only 2% of national health budgets.
Globally, low- and middle-income countries have less than 1 mental health worker per 100,000 people, compared to 40 in high-income countries.

Geographic Barriers

In Colombia, most psychologists and psychiatrists are concentrated in large cities, leaving rural regions underserved.
In Latin America, over 30% of the population lives in rural areas, where lack of professionals worsens disparities.
The WHO estimates that over half of the world’s population lacks access to basic mental health services due to location.

Cultural and Social Barriers

In Colombia, 65% of people with mental health conditions do not seek help due to stigma.
In Latin America, cultural beliefs reinforce the idea that mental health struggles should be kept private or seen as weakness.
Globally, lack of culturally competent care creates disconnects between providers and patients.

Digital Barriers

While telemedicine is growing, only 60% of rural households in Colombia have internet access.
In many Latin American countries, limited technological infrastructure and low digital literacy exclude vulnerable populations from tele-mental health options.

Solutions toward mental health equity

Addressing these barriers requires an integrated, multi-level approach. At BeFree, we are advancing:

Affordable services to reduce cost barriers.
Virtual care available nationwide.
Culturally competent training for professionals.
Technology platforms designed for low-connectivity regions.

These solutions complement broader public policies across Colombia and Latin America, anti-stigma campaigns, and the promotion of tele-psychology as a key tool for equitable access.

Mental health equity is not just an ideal but an urgent necessity. Global statistics reveal a crisis affecting millions, yet also point to opportunities for innovation and scalable solutions. By tackling economic, geographic, cultural, and digital barriers, initiatives like BeFree aim to make mental health care a universal right rather than a privilege.

Mental health is essential for individual and community well-being, yet access to psychological services remains a privilege for many. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 1 in 8 people worldwide lives with a mental disorder, but over 70% do not receive the treatment they need due to economic, geographic, and social barriers. This inequality is evident globally, underscoring the urgency of closing these gaps with effective solutions.

Existing barriers to mental health services

Socioeconomic Barriers

In Colombia, 27% of the population lives in poverty, limiting access to private care. Public health services exist, but they are underfunded and wait times can stretch for months.
Across Latin America, mental health spending accounts for only 2% of national health budgets.
Globally, low- and middle-income countries have less than 1 mental health worker per 100,000 people, compared to 40 in high-income countries.

Geographic Barriers

In Colombia, most psychologists and psychiatrists are concentrated in large cities, leaving rural regions underserved.
In Latin America, over 30% of the population lives in rural areas, where lack of professionals worsens disparities.
The WHO estimates that over half of the world’s population lacks access to basic mental health services due to location.

Cultural and Social Barriers

In Colombia, 65% of people with mental health conditions do not seek help due to stigma.
In Latin America, cultural beliefs reinforce the idea that mental health struggles should be kept private or seen as weakness.
Globally, lack of culturally competent care creates disconnects between providers and patients.

Digital Barriers

While telemedicine is growing, only 60% of rural households in Colombia have internet access.
In many Latin American countries, limited technological infrastructure and low digital literacy exclude vulnerable populations from tele-mental health options.

Solutions toward mental health equity

Addressing these barriers requires an integrated, multi-level approach. At BeFree, we are advancing:

Affordable services to reduce cost barriers.
Virtual care available nationwide.
Culturally competent training for professionals.
Technology platforms designed for low-connectivity regions.

These solutions complement broader public policies across Colombia and Latin America, anti-stigma campaigns, and the promotion of tele-psychology as a key tool for equitable access.

Mental health equity is not just an ideal but an urgent necessity. Global statistics reveal a crisis affecting millions, yet also point to opportunities for innovation and scalable solutions. By tackling economic, geographic, cultural, and digital barriers, initiatives like BeFree aim to make mental health care a universal right rather than a privilege.

Mental health is essential for individual and community well-being, yet access to psychological services remains a privilege for many. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 1 in 8 people worldwide lives with a mental disorder, but over 70% do not receive the treatment they need due to economic, geographic, and social barriers. This inequality is evident globally, underscoring the urgency of closing these gaps with effective solutions.

Existing barriers to mental health services

Socioeconomic Barriers

In Colombia, 27% of the population lives in poverty, limiting access to private care. Public health services exist, but they are underfunded and wait times can stretch for months.
Across Latin America, mental health spending accounts for only 2% of national health budgets.
Globally, low- and middle-income countries have less than 1 mental health worker per 100,000 people, compared to 40 in high-income countries.

Geographic Barriers

In Colombia, most psychologists and psychiatrists are concentrated in large cities, leaving rural regions underserved.
In Latin America, over 30% of the population lives in rural areas, where lack of professionals worsens disparities.
The WHO estimates that over half of the world’s population lacks access to basic mental health services due to location.

Cultural and Social Barriers

In Colombia, 65% of people with mental health conditions do not seek help due to stigma.
In Latin America, cultural beliefs reinforce the idea that mental health struggles should be kept private or seen as weakness.
Globally, lack of culturally competent care creates disconnects between providers and patients.

Digital Barriers

While telemedicine is growing, only 60% of rural households in Colombia have internet access.
In many Latin American countries, limited technological infrastructure and low digital literacy exclude vulnerable populations from tele-mental health options.

Solutions toward mental health equity

Addressing these barriers requires an integrated, multi-level approach. At BeFree, we are advancing:

Affordable services to reduce cost barriers.
Virtual care available nationwide.
Culturally competent training for professionals.
Technology platforms designed for low-connectivity regions.

These solutions complement broader public policies across Colombia and Latin America, anti-stigma campaigns, and the promotion of tele-psychology as a key tool for equitable access.

Mental health equity is not just an ideal but an urgent necessity. Global statistics reveal a crisis affecting millions, yet also point to opportunities for innovation and scalable solutions. By tackling economic, geographic, cultural, and digital barriers, initiatives like BeFree aim to make mental health care a universal right rather than a privilege.

Mental health is essential for individual and community well-being, yet access to psychological services remains a privilege for many. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 1 in 8 people worldwide lives with a mental disorder, but over 70% do not receive the treatment they need due to economic, geographic, and social barriers. This inequality is evident globally, underscoring the urgency of closing these gaps with effective solutions.

Existing barriers to mental health services

Socioeconomic Barriers

In Colombia, 27% of the population lives in poverty, limiting access to private care. Public health services exist, but they are underfunded and wait times can stretch for months.
Across Latin America, mental health spending accounts for only 2% of national health budgets.
Globally, low- and middle-income countries have less than 1 mental health worker per 100,000 people, compared to 40 in high-income countries.

Geographic Barriers

In Colombia, most psychologists and psychiatrists are concentrated in large cities, leaving rural regions underserved.
In Latin America, over 30% of the population lives in rural areas, where lack of professionals worsens disparities.
The WHO estimates that over half of the world’s population lacks access to basic mental health services due to location.

Cultural and Social Barriers

In Colombia, 65% of people with mental health conditions do not seek help due to stigma.
In Latin America, cultural beliefs reinforce the idea that mental health struggles should be kept private or seen as weakness.
Globally, lack of culturally competent care creates disconnects between providers and patients.

Digital Barriers

While telemedicine is growing, only 60% of rural households in Colombia have internet access.
In many Latin American countries, limited technological infrastructure and low digital literacy exclude vulnerable populations from tele-mental health options.

Solutions toward mental health equity

Addressing these barriers requires an integrated, multi-level approach. At BeFree, we are advancing:

Affordable services to reduce cost barriers.
Virtual care available nationwide.
Culturally competent training for professionals.
Technology platforms designed for low-connectivity regions.

These solutions complement broader public policies across Colombia and Latin America, anti-stigma campaigns, and the promotion of tele-psychology as a key tool for equitable access.

Mental health equity is not just an ideal but an urgent necessity. Global statistics reveal a crisis affecting millions, yet also point to opportunities for innovation and scalable solutions. By tackling economic, geographic, cultural, and digital barriers, initiatives like BeFree aim to make mental health care a universal right rather than a privilege.

Mental health and equity: Overcoming barriers to accessing care