By Joke Kujenya
MORE THAN 1.17 billion people worldwide were living with mental health disorders in 2023, marking a 95.5 per cent increase from 1990, according to a new study published in The Lancet.
JKNewsMedia.com reports that the study, led by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), analysed data from 204 countries as part of the 2023 Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries and Risk Factors Study (GBDIRFS)
Researchers examined a broad range of mental disorders, including depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, schizophrenia, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, conduct disorder, dysthymia and developmental intellectual disability.
Their findings showed that global cases of mental disorders increased from an estimated 599 million in 1990 to 1.17 billion in 2023.
Anxiety disorders and major depressive disorders were identified as the most common conditions globally.
Also, cases of anxiety disorders rose from 182 million in 1990 to 470 million in 2023, while major depressive disorders increased from 102 million to 236 million during the same period.
Although anorexia, bulimia and schizophrenia recorded lower case numbers, the study stated that they remained significant public health concerns, affecting approximately four million, 14 million and 26 million people respectively in 2023.
The report also identified gender differences in mental health patterns. Most mental disorders were found to be more common among females, while autism, conduct disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, personality disorders and unexplained intellectual disability were more prevalent among males.
Co-author of the study Alize Ferrari said adolescence remains a particularly vulnerable stage for mental health development.
“Our findings show that mental disorder burden peaks among 15- to 19-year-olds, which is a critical development period that can shape trajectories for education, employment, and relationships,” Ferrari said.
Researchers highlighted the continuing impact of the COVID 19 pandemic on mental health worldwide. The study found that while anxiety and depression rates had been increasing before the pandemic, depression worsened during the crisis and had not returned to pre pandemic levels. Anxiety levels also remained elevated through 2023.
The study measured disability adjusted life years, an indicator of years of healthy life lost due to illness or disability.
Mental disorders rose from the 12th leading cause of disability adjusted life years globally in 1990 to the fifth leading cause in 2023.
Anxiety and major depressive disorders also ranked among the top 20 causes of disability adjusted life years in 152 of the 204 countries analysed.
Despite lower prevalence rates, schizophrenia accounted for the third highest burden of mental disorder disability adjusted life years globally because of its severity, the report says.
It adds that women recorded a higher overall burden of mental illness, with 92.6 million disability adjusted life years compared with 78.6 million among men.
The Lancet researchers called for stronger mental health surveillance systems, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, alongside coordinated policies focused on prevention, early treatment and support tailored to differences in age and gender.
“Responding to the mental health needs of our global population, especially those most vulnerable, is an obligation, not a choice,” the study concluded.
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