By Maxwell Awumah, GNA
Ho, May 22, GNA — Nearly 1.2 billion people worldwide are living with mental disorders, almost double the number recorded in 1990.
A new study shared with the Ghana News Agency says the sharp rise has made mental disorders the leading cause of disability globally, surpassing cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and musculoskeletal conditions.
The study, led by researchers at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation in collaboration with partners at the University of Queensland and published in The Lancet, found that mental disorders disproportionately affect people aged 15 to 19 and women.
Researchers examined the prevalence and burden of mental disorders across both sexes, 25 age groups, 21 regions, and 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2023, making it the most comprehensive analysis of mental disorder burden to date.
The study assessed 12 mental disorders, with anxiety disorders and major depressive disorder (MDD) ranking 11th and 15th respectively among 304 diseases and injuries worldwide. Mental disorders are now the leading driver of disability globally.
In 2023, mental disorders accounted for 171 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) globally, making them the fifth-leading cause of total disease burden. DALYs measure overall health loss by combining years lived with disability and years of life lost due to premature death. Mental disorders accounted for more than 17 per cent of all years lived with disability worldwide, reflecting their growing impact across populations.
Recent increases have been driven largely by anxiety disorders and major depressive disorder. Since 2019, the age-standardised prevalence of major depressive disorder has risen by about 24 per cent, while anxiety disorders have increased by more than 47 per cent, with both conditions peaking in the years following the COVID-19 pandemic.
“These rising trends may reflect both the lingering effects of pandemic-related stress and longer-term structural drivers such as poverty, insecurity, abuse, violence, and declining social connectedness. Addressing this growing challenge will require sustained investment in mental health systems, expanded access to care, and coordinated global action to better support populations most at risk,” said Dr Damian Santomauro, Associate Professor at the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research in partnership with the University of Queensland and Affiliate Assistant Professor at IHME.
Burden peaks in adolescence, disproportionately affects women
Mental disorders affect individuals across all stages of life, though the types of conditions and their impact vary by age. In early childhood, autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), conduct disorder, and idiopathic developmental intellectual disability are the most prevalent, with boys affected at higher rates than girls. As children move into adolescence, anxiety and MDD become the leading contributors to mental disorder burden.
“Our findings show that mental disorder burden peaks among 15–19-year-olds, which is a critical developmental period that can shape trajectories for education, employment, and relationships,” said Dr Alize Ferrari, Honorary Associate Professor at the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, University of Queensland, and co-author of the study.
In 2023, 620 million women worldwide were living with a mental disorder compared with 552 million men. Women accounted for 92.6 million DALYs, compared with 78.6 million among men, indicating a higher overall burden. Researchers said the disparity is likely linked to factors such as greater exposure to domestic violence and sexual abuse, increased caregiving responsibilities, and structural inequalities including gender discrimination.
Global burden exposes major gaps in care
The burden of mental disorders increased in every region of the world between 1990 and 2023, although the scale and pattern varied significantly across regions and development levels. High-income regions such as Australasia and Western Europe recorded some of the highest burden rates globally, particularly in countries including the Netherlands, Portugal, and Australia. Significant increases were also observed in Western sub-Saharan Africa and parts of South Asia.
Researchers noted that mental disorders continue to affect families and caregivers, reduce workforce participation and productivity, and place increasing pressure on health systems and government resources worldwide.
According to Global Burden of Disease (GBD) analyses, only about nine per cent of people living with major depressive disorder globally receive minimally adequate treatment, while less than five per cent receive adequate care in 90 countries. Among 204 countries and territories, only a small number of high-income countries, including Australia, Canada, and the Netherlands, have treatment coverage exceeding 30 per cent, highlighting major global gaps in mental healthcare.
The study stressed that expanding access to mental health services, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, would be critical to improving treatment coverage and outcomes. Researchers called for coordinated global action and sustained investment in mental health systems worldwide.
GNA
Edited by: Audrey Dekalu
Reporter: Maxwell AwumahÂ
[email protected]Â