Mental health problems are becoming one of the biggest health challenges facing the world today. A major new international study has found that nearly 1.2 billion people around the globe were living with a mental disorder in 2023.
This number is almost double the number recorded in 1990, showing how rapidly mental health conditions have increased over the past few decades.
The research was led by scientists at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, also known as IHME, together with researchers from the University of Queensland. The findings were published in the medical journal The Lancet.
According to the researchers, mental disorders are now the leading cause of disability worldwide. They have surpassed other major health problems such as heart disease, cancer, and musculoskeletal conditions.
The study is considered one of the most comprehensive mental health analyses ever conducted. Researchers examined mental disorder rates across 204 countries and territories between 1990 and 2023. The study looked at men and women separately, included 25 different age groups, and covered 21 world regions.
The researchers studied 12 mental disorders, including anxiety disorders, major depressive disorder, autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, conduct disorder, and developmental intellectual disability.
Among all 304 diseases and injuries measured globally, anxiety disorders ranked as the 11th largest contributor to disease burden, while major depressive disorder ranked 15th.
One important measure used in the study was disability-adjusted life years, also called DALYs. This measure combines years lost due to illness, disability, or early death. In 2023, mental disorders were responsible for 171 million DALYs worldwide, making them the fifth-leading cause of total disease burden globally.
Mental disorders also accounted for more than 17 percent of all years lived with disability worldwide. This highlights how strongly these conditions affect daily life, education, work, relationships, and long-term health.
The researchers found that anxiety disorders and major depressive disorder were major drivers behind the increase in mental health burden. Since 2019, rates of major depressive disorder have increased by around 24 percent, while anxiety disorders have increased by more than 47 percent.
Scientists believe the COVID-19 pandemic played a major role in this rise. The pandemic disrupted everyday life, caused social isolation, financial stress, grief, uncertainty, and fear. However, the researchers say the increase cannot be explained by the pandemic alone.
According to lead author Dr. Damian Santomauro from the Queensland Center for Mental Health Research and the University of Queensland, longer-term social problems may also be contributing. These include poverty, violence, abuse, insecurity, and declining social connectedness.
The study also found that mental disorders affect some groups more strongly than others.
One of the most important findings was that mental disorder burden peaks during adolescence, especially between the ages of 15 and 19. Researchers say this is a critical stage of life because mental health problems during adolescence can affect education, employment opportunities, relationships, and future wellbeing.
In younger children, conditions such as autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, conduct disorder, and developmental intellectual disability were more common. Boys were affected more often than girls during early childhood.
As children moved into adolescence, anxiety disorders and depression became much more common.
The study also showed that women are affected more heavily overall than men. In 2023, around 620 million women worldwide were living with a mental disorder compared with 552 million men.
Women also experienced a greater overall disease burden. Researchers believe this difference may be linked to several social and biological factors. Women often face higher rates of domestic violence, sexual abuse, caregiving pressure, discrimination, and unequal social conditions.
Mental disorders increased in every region of the world between 1990 and 2023. However, some regions were affected more severely than others.
High-income regions such as Australasia and Western Europe showed some of the highest mental disorder burden rates. Countries including Australia, Portugal, and the Netherlands had especially high rates.
Large increases were also seen in parts of South Asia and Western sub-Saharan Africa.
The researchers warn that mental health conditions do not only affect individuals. They also affect families, workplaces, healthcare systems, and national economies. Mental disorders can reduce productivity, increase healthcare costs, and place emotional strain on caregivers and communities.
Despite the growing burden, access to mental health care remains extremely limited in many parts of the world.
The study estimated that only about 9 percent of people worldwide with major depressive disorder receive even minimally adequate treatment. In 90 countries, fewer than 5 percent receive proper care.
Only a small number of wealthy countries, including Australia, Canada, and the Netherlands, provide adequate treatment coverage to more than 30 percent of patients.
The researchers say urgent action is needed to improve access to mental health services, especially in low-income and middle-income countries. They argue that governments must invest more heavily in mental health systems, prevention programs, and community support services.
Overall, the study paints a concerning picture of the global mental health crisis. However, it also highlights an important opportunity. Experts believe earlier intervention, better access to care, stronger social support, and reduced stigma around mental illness could significantly improve outcomes for millions of people worldwide.
The findings show that mental health is no longer a small or secondary issue. It has become one of the largest public health challenges of modern society, affecting nearly every country and every age group.
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Source: University of Queensland.
