The global financial crisis is likely to cause increased mental health problems and even suicides as people struggle to cope with poverty and unemployment, the World Health Organization warned Thursday.

Hundreds of millions of people worldwide are already affected¹ by mental problems such as depression and bi-polar disorders² and the current market meltdown could exacerbate³ feelings of despair among people vulnerable to such illnesses.

The United Nations agency said the impact could be especially marked for those living in low and middle income countries where access to treatment is often limited.

"We should not be surprised or underestimate the turbulence⁴ and likely consequences of the current financial crisis. As it is we are seeing a huge gap in taking care of people in great need," WHO director general Margaret Chan told a meeting of mental health experts.

Poverty and its associated stresses including violence, social exclusion⁵ and "constant insecurity" are linked to the onset⁶ of mental disorders, she said.

"It should not come as a surprise that we continue to see more stresses, suicides and mental disorders," Chan warned.

Benedetto Saraceno, director of WHO's mental health and substance abuse department, said mental health disorders affect one in four people at some point in their lives.

Mental and neurological disorders are often chronic⁷ and disabling, he said. Nearly 1 million people commit suicide worldwide every year, a large proportion of them young adults.

Asked about the financial crisis, Saraceno said "Poverty can be the consequence of such events, the debts, despair and sense of loss that may reach middle and lower classes. Even the poor can be affected by this crisis".

"There is a clear evidence that suicide is linked to financial disasters. I am not talking about the millionaire jumping out of the window but about poor people," he said.

The global crisis could be expected to affect the "stability of communities and families", according to Saraceno.

The WHO launched a programme Thursday, the annual World Mental Health Day, aimed at increasing funding and services for the mentally ill over the next six years.

 世界卫生组织于上周四发出警告，全球金融危机导致很多人陷入贫困和失业，进而可能造成严重的心理问题甚至自杀事件增加。

目前，全球已有数亿人受到抑郁症和躁郁症等精神问题的困扰，而如今全球金融市场的崩盘无疑将进一步加重那些心理脆弱者的绝望情绪。

联合国机构世卫组织称，这一问题在中低收入国家会尤其显著，因为这些国家的医疗条件相对有限。

世卫组织总干事陈冯富珍在心理健康专家会议上说：“我们不应该感到意外，不能低估这次危机带来的动荡和可能造成的后果。目前，我们在救助心理疾病患者方面还存在很大空缺。”

她说，贫穷及其带来的相关压力，包括暴力、社会排斥和“持续不安全感”等问题会引起精神紊乱。

她警告说：“不出所料，我们还会看到更多的压力、精神紊乱和自杀事件的发生。”

“心理健康与滥用药物署”主管贝内德托 萨拉瑟诺说，每四个人中就有一个人在人生的某个阶段会出现心理问题。

他说，精神和神经紊乱的影响经常是长期的，并且损坏心智机能。全球每年有近100万人自杀，其中大部分是年轻人。

在被问及金融危机造成的影响时，萨拉瑟诺说：“危机会导致人们陷入贫困，债务、绝望和失落感可能会袭击中低收入阶层；甚至连穷人也会受到这场危机的影响。”

“很明显，自杀与金融危机密切相关。但我指的不是那些跳楼的百万富翁，而是穷人。”

萨拉瑟诺说，全球金融危机还会影响到“社区和家庭的稳定”。

世卫组织在上周四的“世界心理健康日”当天推出了一项新计划，旨在今后六年加大对心理疾病患者的资助和服务。