According to a recent study published in the medical journal The Lancet, nearly 1.2 billion people worldwide are living with mental health problems and disorders. Scientists say this figure has almost doubled compared to 1990.
The study states that mental illnesses have now become the most common cause of health-related disability globally, surpassing cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and musculoskeletal disorders.
The research was conducted by scientists from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) and the University of Queensland. In this study, researchers assessed the prevalence and severity of mental health conditions across 204 countries and territories between 1990 and 2023. The data were analyzed by gender, 25 age groups, and 21 global regions.
Researchers say this is the most comprehensive study ever conducted on mental health. The results show that women and adolescents aged 15 to 19 are the most affected groups by the rising burden of mental health problems.
According to the findings, the sharp increase in numbers is mainly linked to a rise in cases of major depressive disorder and anxiety disorders. Since 2019, global rates of depression have increased by 24 percent, while anxiety disorders have risen by 47 percent.
The study emphasizes that after the COVID-19 pandemic, the prevalence of depression and anxiety has reached its highest level.
Researchers also report that the burden of mental illness has increased in all regions of the world. High-income countries such as Australia and Western European nations are among those with the highest recorded burden of mental disorders. However, many low-income countries were not fully included in the study.
The findings show that access to proper treatment services remains limited. Globally, only about 9 percent of people with severe depression receive adequate treatment, and in 90 countries this figure is below 5 percent.
According to the report, only a few high-income countries, including Australia, Canada, and the Netherlands, have achieved treatment coverage of more than 30 percent for mental health patients. Researchers believe that no other category of disease affects daily human life across the world to such an extent.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
