All the statistics about mental health worldwide.
According to recent statistics, mental health problems cost huge populations across the globe a burden, along with the magnitude of complexities that come with it.
It is estimated that about 970 million people, or nearly 1 in 8 people in the world, live with a mental disorder. Of these, the most common are those who are depressed, affecting about 280 million, and those with anxiety disorders, which affect about 301 million people globally according to WHO (https://ourworldindata.org/mental-health).
- Burden, Impact: Major mental health conditions result in the largest disability in the world. They constitute about 13% of the global disease burden. Among the leading contributors to the general burden are depressive conditions: their effects both on productivity and quality of life for general health are quite significant (https://www.who.int/teams/mental-health-and-substance-use/world-mental-health-report)
- Suicide Rates: Up to 800,000 people die of suicide every year, making it one of the leading causes of death, especially in the young population between the ages of 15 to 29. (https://worldwidementalhealth.org/?gad_source=1).
- Access to Care: The number of cases of mental disorders is very high, yet in most parts of the world, mental health care is almost non-existent. More than 75% of the low-income country populations, for example, go without receiving any treatment for their mental health conditions because of the lack of services and the stigma and discrimination that comes with it.
- Specific Conditions:
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): OCD is noted to occur in 1.5% of women and 1% of men globally. It is usually comorbid with other disorders, such as anxiety and depression, which further complicates treatment and management (https://medalerthelp.org/blog/mental-health-statistics/).
- Eating Disorders: Anorexia nervosa affects 0.9% to 2% of females and 0.1% to 0.3% of males. The incidence of eating disorders has been on a continuous increase over the last five decades, especially in young women (https://medalerthelp.org/blog/mental-health-statistics/).
- Children’s health is identified with numerous mental issues: 9.4% of children are diagnosed with ADHD, and another 59.3% are getting treatment in one way or another. This just goes to show that many are not getting care and need more support. The most critical thing, however, is that it points to the need for better mental health services, the ability to access that care, and new, more ambitious efforts to reduce stigma and discrimination. Overcoming these challenges will require integrated efforts by the governments, health organisations, and communities of the world.
REFERENCES:
- World Health Organization (WHO). “World Mental Health Report.” This report provides comprehensive data on mental health prevalence, the impact of mental disorders, and global mental health trends.
- Worldwide Mental Health Foundation. This foundation offers detailed insights into the global mental health crisis, including prevalence rates and the impact of mental health issues.
- MedAlertHelp. “33 Most Alarming Mental Health Statistics & Facts for 2024.” This article includes specific statistics on various mental health conditions and treatment outcomes.
- 33 Most Alarming Mental Health Statistics & Facts for 2024 (MedAlertHelp.org)
These sources provide a comprehensive view of the current state of mental health worldwide, including prevalence rates, the burden of mental disorders, and access to care.