Study: Nearly 1.2bn people living with mental disorders, with cases up 95% since 1990

22 May 2026, 16:34 by Muhibat Sulaimon · TheCable Lifestyle

A recent study has found that the global mental health burden 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 analysed data from the 2023 global burden of diseases, injuries, and risk factors study across 204 countries, different age groups, sexes, and 21 regions between 1990 and 2023.

The mental disorders assessed included depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anorexia nervosa, schizophrenia, bulimia nervosa, dysthymia, conduct disorder, and developmental intellectual disability from unknown causes.

In 1990, there were an estimated 599 million cases of mental disorders globally. By 2023, that number had risen to an estimated 1.17 billion cases.

Researchers found that anxiety disorders and major depressive disorders were the most common conditions assessed.

Anxiety disorder cases increased from 182 million in 1990 to 470 million in 2023, representing an increase of more than 47 per cent after adjusting for population growth. Major depressive disorders increased by 24 per cent, rising from 102 million cases in 1990 to 236 million cases in 2023.

Anorexia, bulimia, and schizophrenia were the least common disorders assessed. However, they remained widespread, with an estimated four million, 14 million, and 26 million cases, respectively, in 2023.

The study found that most mental disorders were more common among females, while autism, conduct disorders, ADHD, personality disorders, and unexplained intellectual disability were more prevalent among males.

Alize Ferrari, the study’s co-author, said most mental disorders peak between the ages of 15 and 19 because adolescence is a vulnerable and important stage for brain, social, and intellectual development.

“Our findings show that mental disorder burden peaks among 15–19-year-olds, which is a critical development period that can shape trajectories for education, employment, and relationships,” she said.

The study disclosed that the COVID-19 pandemic influenced the rates of some mental health disorders.

Researchers said rates of anxiety, depression, and other conditions were already rising before the pandemic.

However, depression increased further during the pandemic and has not returned to pre-pandemic levels, while anxiety remained high through 2023.

The study also measured disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), which represent years of healthy life lost due to illness or disability. Mental disorders became the fifth leading cause of DALYs globally in 2023, rising from 12th place in 1990.

Anxiety and major depressive disorders were among the top 20 causes of DALYs in 152 of the 204 countries studied. Although schizophrenia had lower case numbers, it was the third-leading cause of mental disorder DALYs globally due to its severity.

Women had a higher overall burden of mental illness, with 92.6 million DALYs compared to 78.6 million among men.

The researchers advised that stronger mental health surveillance systems are needed, especially in low and middle-income countries, alongside coordinated policies for early treatment and prevention.

“Stronger surveillance systems, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries, are required,” the study reads. “Additionally, we need more coordinated and inclusive policies to reduce the burden through early treatment and prevention, tailored to sex and age differences across locations.”

They added that meeting the mental health needs of vulnerable groups across age and location is now an “obligation, not a choice.”

“Responding to the mental health needs of our global population, especially those most vulnerable, is an obligation, not a choice,” the study concluded.

Copyright 2026 TheCable. All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from TheCable.

Follow us on twitter @Thecablestyle