A recent study has found that the global mental health burden has increased by 95.5 per cent since 1990, with over one billion people worldwide living with mental disorders in 2023.
The study, published on Thursday in The Lancet, was led by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation.
Researchers examined data from the 2023 global burden of diseases, injuries, and risk factors study across 204 countries, multiple age groups, sexes, and 21 regions spanning 1990 to 2023.
The mental health conditions assessed included depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, anorexia nervosa, schizophrenia, bulimia nervosa, dysthymia, conduct disorder, and developmental intellectual disability from unknown causes.
In 1990, global cases were estimated at 599 million, but this rose significantly to about 1.17 billion cases in 2023.
Anxiety disorders and major depressive disorders were identified as the most prevalent conditions. Anxiety cases rose from 182 million in 1990 to 470 million in 2023, while major depressive disorders increased from 102 million to 236 million within the same period.
Anorexia, bulimia, and schizophrenia were among the least common conditions recorded, but still remained widespread globally, with millions of cases reported in 2023.
The study also showed that most mental health conditions were more common among females, while autism, conduct disorders, ADHD, personality disorders, and unexplained intellectual disability were more prevalent among males.
Co-author Alize Ferrari noted that mental health disorders often peak between ages 15 and 19, describing adolescence as a critical stage for brain and social development that shapes long-term outcomes in education, work, and relationships.
The research further highlighted the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that while mental health issues were already increasing before the outbreak, depression rose further during the pandemic and has not returned to pre-pandemic levels, while anxiety has remained persistently high through 2023.
The study also measured disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), showing that mental disorders moved from the 12th leading cause of global DALYs in 1990 to the fifth position in 2023.
Anxiety and major depressive disorders ranked among the top 20 causes of DALYs in 152 of the 204 countries studied, while schizophrenia, despite fewer cases, ranked third globally in DALY contribution due to its severity.
Women recorded a higher overall burden of mental illness, with 92.6 million DALYs compared to 78.6 million among men.
Researchers called for stronger mental health surveillance systems, particularly in low and middle-income countries, alongside coordinated policies focused on early intervention and prevention.
They concluded that addressing mental health needs across age groups and regions is now “an obligation, not a choice.”