Globally, close to 450 million people have mental health disorders; more than 75 per cent of that number lives in developing countries. In addition, according to the World Health Organization, 85 per cent of developing world patients with serious mental disorders receive no treatment at all.

On Tuesday, Grand Challenges Canada, which is funded by the Government of Canada, announced $19.4 million in support of 15 innovative, pioneering projects designed to improve mental health diagnosis and care in developing countries, many of them nations ravaged by conflict and disaster as well as poverty.