Study: Mental Disorders Have Doubled Globally Since 1990
The burden is now the leading cause of disability worldwide, with anxiety and depression driving most of the increase, researchers said.
- Nearly 1.2 billion people worldwide lived with mental health disorders in 2023, according to a new study published in The Lancet on Thursday, reflecting a 95.5% increase since 1990.
- Mental health disorders now disproportionately affect younger populations, with researchers identifying a peak in the 15- to 19-year-old age group for the first time; Dr. Damian Santomauro, the study's lead author, said he "was honestly shocked at the magnitude."
- Researchers observed an 158% rise in anxiety and a 131% uptick in depression compared to 1990 levels across 204 countries, with roughly one in eight people globally currently living with a mental health condition.
- Despite the crisis, median government spending on mental health remains just two percent of health budgets globally, and the study's authors warned this increased burden lacks proportional expansion of mental health services.
- Experts advise individuals to prioritize lifestyle factors such as sleep and social connection while seeking professional help, emphasizing that addressing these rising health risks requires global collective leadership.
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52 Articles
Nearly 1.2 Billion People Worldwide Suffer From Mental Disorders. Their Number Is Increasing (STUDY)
Nearly 1.2 billion people around the world suffered from mental disorders in 2023, which represents an increase of 95.5% compared to 1990, according to a new study. The greatest increases occurred in the case of anxiety and depression, which were also the most frequent disorders in 2023. In the third place, a residual category of personality disorders was located that were not accompanied by other mental disorders or substance use. The study was…
Global mental disorders have nearly doubled since 1990, now affecting 1.2 billion people worldwide
Nearly 1.2 billion people worldwide are living with a mental disorder, nearly double the number recorded in 1990. According to a new study, this stark rise has placed mental disorders as the leading cause of disability globally, surpassing cardiovascular disease, cancer, and musculoskeletal conditions.
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