Mental health
Mental disorders are among the top 10 leading causes of health loss worldwide, with anxiety and depressive disorders ranked as the most burdensome across all age groups and locations.
Photo by Ashley Batz, Unsplash.
Where are mental disorders most common?
In 2023, the countries with the highest age-standardized prevalence rates of mental disorders in the world were The Netherlands, Portugal, and Australia. We also see high prevalence in the United Kingdom, Iran, Malta, Brazil, and Ireland. Some of the lowest age-standardized prevalence rates in the world are in parts of Asia, like Viet Nam, Thailand, and Lao.
Prevalence of mental disorders worldwide, 2023
How can we respond to the burden imposed by mental disorders globally?
There are a number of proven actions governments can take to reduce the burden of mental disorders in their region.
There are many known risk factors for mental disorders, such as childhood maltreatment, bullying victimization, conflict, and interpersonal violence. Addressing the causes of mental disorders and taking steps to mitigate them is a proactive approach to reducing the burden on the population.
These preventive strategies can take different forms. For instance, we have seen success in the implementation of learning programs in schools to support the social and emotional development of children and youth, build their resilience, and discourage risky behaviors.
In many regions of the world, mental health can still be a taboo topic. Breaking the stigma can encourage more people to seek care and treatment. Read more about this neglected health challenge in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Considerable research has been done to demonstrate the success and cost-effectiveness of a range of pharmacological and psychosocial treatments for mental disorders. The focus now needs to turn to improving the uptake of these treatments within the population and preventive intervention strategies to slow down the emergence of new mental disorder cases.
Are the prevalence and burden of mental disorders increasing over time?
Between 1990 and 2023, mental disorders jumped up in the ranking of top causes of health loss worldwide – from 12th to 5th place.
While the age-standardized prevalence of these conditions has not increased by much, we’re seeing an even greater impact on the overall health of the population. This reflects a general change in the landscape of global health: as we see fewer deaths from infectious diseases like malaria, more people are now living to an age when they’re more likely to be impacted by mental disorders.
Dr. Alize Ferrari, Affiliate Associate Professor at IHME
“It’s important for us to learn from [COVID-19] so we’re better prepared for the next population shock that comes along, whether it’s an economic shock or a shock around conflict, war, and violence – all these things that we already know do impact the prevalence of mental disorders.”
