LAHORE, July 20: Mental illness is the most common non-communicable disease in the world, affecting more than 450 million people, says a newsletter of the International Medical Corps.

Despite its prevalence, only a small percentage of the global population has access to even the most basic treatment.

The California-based organisation was one of the first international relief and development organisations to recognise that untreated mental illness can be a serious setback to individuals, and even communities, struggling to make a fresh start.

IMC is now making sustainable and accessible mental healthcare a cornerstone of its comprehensive relief and development programming in under-developed countries, especially in the south Asian nations.—APP