A well-known consultant in the field of geriatric psychiatry, Dr. Robert Kohn owns and manages his own private practice in Providence, Rhode Island, where he concentrates on the psychopharmacological and psychotherapeutic treatment of geriatric patients. Additionally, Dr. Robert Kohn performs widely acknowledged geriatric psychiatry and worldwide mental health studies. Latin American countries have spent less on mental health treatment than other regions with similar GDP levels. This can be attributed to a low percentage of health funds dedicated to mental health, the absence of legislation protecting the human rights of people who suffer from mental illnesses, and the persistence of ineffective but expensive hospital care systems. These factors have continued to obstruct mental care, expanding the global burden of mental disease. Another significant contributor to low rates of mental care is the fact that some families believe that a mental illness that affects one or more members will go away on its own or that the individual can fix it; a problem that can be linked to a lack of mental health literacy. Financial constraints, lack of faith in the healthcare system, and stigma are some other key contributors to the burden. The Regional Office of the World Health of the Pan American Health Organization offers several recommendations areas that might help close the treatment gap among the population. These include the creation and implementation of governmental policy on mental health, supporting the development and dissemination of mental health information, and the promotion of mental health initiatives, particularly those focusing on children's psychosocial development.