The World Health Organization (WHO) is convening its 79th World Health Assembly this week in Geneva, Switzerland, where mental health will be one of more than 75 topics discussed.
According to the WHO, more than 1 billion people (approximately 1 in 8 people worldwide) are currently living with a mental health condition. And the number is increasing.
Young people are the hardest hit of those affected, with men having higher rates of suicide and women having disproportionately higher rates of anxiety and depression.
Despite the scale of the crisis, mental health is chronically underfunded, with the world’s median government spending on mental health accounting for only 2% of health budgets, according to the WHO.
What is a mental health disorder?
Mental health disorders are conditions that affect the way people feel, think, and behave.
The WHO and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) classify mental health conditions into several groups.
mood disorderConditions such as depression and bipolar disorder affect a person’s mental state, often leading to long-term feelings of sadness and mood swings.
anxiety disorder These include generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, social anxiety, and phobias characterized by fear and worry.
mental disorderschizophrenia, etc., include delusions, distorted thinking, and hallucinations.
trauma-related disorderswhich develops in response to distressing or life-threatening events, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
There are also other mental health conditions such as eating disorders, personality disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders, dissociative disorders, and substance use disorders.
See the table below for detailed conditions.
Global mental health epidemic
Mental health disorders are prevalent worldwide and on the rise.
According to the WHO, one in eight people has a mental health condition, with anxiety and depression being the most common.
Mental health disorders tend to affect people from different income groups. However, treatment is lacking in low- and middle-income countries.
According to the WHO Mental Health Atlas 2024, which collected data from 75 countries, spending on mental health ranges from $0.04 per person in low-income countries to $0.34 per person in lower-middle-income countries to $65.89 per person in high-income countries.
The prevalence of mental health disorders across WHO regions in 2019 is:
- Americas: 15.6% of the population
- Eastern Mediterranean: 14.7%
- Europe: 14.2%
- Southeast Asia: 13.2%
- Western Pacific: 11.7%
- Africa: 10.9%
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the incidence of mental health disorders increased globally, with anxiety and depression in particular spiking. According to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME)’s latest Global Burden of Disease Report, the burden of disease caused by mental illness using a measure called DALY (disability-adjusted life year) is:
- depressive disorder 694.6 per 100,000
- anxiety disorder 686.5 per 100,000
- schizophrenia 210.2 per 100,000
- bipolar disorder 94.6 per 100,000 people
- eating disorder 47.5 per 100,000 people
Mental health disorders are the leading cause of disability globally, accounting for approximately one in every six years of people living with disability (YLD) worldwide and the second largest cause of long-term disability, according to the WHO.
1 person dies by suicide every 43 seconds
According to an analysis published in the medical journal The Lancet, approximately 740,000 suicides are reported each year, with an average death rate of one person every 43 seconds.
Suicide is the 17th leading cause of death across all age groups, but is rapidly increasing among young people. It is the third leading cause of death for people aged 15-29 and the second leading cause of death for women aged 15-29 worldwide.
More men die by suicide than women. Globally, in 2021, the suicide rate for men was four times higher than for women, with a suicide rate of 12.8 per 100,000 for men and 5.4 for women per 100,000.
According to the WHO, suicide rates are higher among vulnerable groups who face discrimination, such as refugees, indigenous peoples, and the LGBTQ+ community.
Anxiety is the most common mental health condition
An estimated 359 million people worldwide have an anxiety disorder. That number has increased by more than 50% since 1990.
According to the WHO, women are more likely to suffer from anxiety disorders than men. Young people are also severely affected, with 7.6 percent of 15- to 19-year-olds suffering from the disorder.
However, only one in four people with anxiety receive treatment, according to the WHO.
Anxiety disorders also increase the risk of developing depression and substance use disorders.
According to WHO and IHME, Portugal has the highest rate of anxiety disorders compared to other countries, with 13.3% of the population suffering from some form of anxiety disorder. This is followed by Brazil (12.4%) and Iran (12.3%).
The map below shows the percentage of people in each country who are worried.
Depressive disorders affect 5% of the world
An estimated 332 million people live with depression.
According to the WHO, depression is the number one cause of disability worldwide in terms of years lived with disability.
Women are more likely to develop depressive disorders than men, and violence, trauma, and hormonal factors contribute to higher rates. Globally, more than 10% of pregnant women and women who have just given birth experience depression.
Research shows that women are more likely to manifest mental health issues internally, such as depression, anxiety, and eating disorders, while men are more likely to manifest mental health issues externally, such as substance abuse and antisocial personality disorder.
According to WHO and IHME, Syria has the highest prevalence of depression compared to other countries, affecting 8% of the population. This is followed by the UK (6.8%) and the Netherlands (6.2%).
If left untreated, depression can lead to suicide.
The map below shows the percentage of people suffering from depression in each country.
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