Mental disorders overtake heart disease, cancer as leading cause of disability

Mental disorders are now the world's leading cause of disability. New study points to rising anxiety and depression, sharp care gaps, and pressure for stronger mental health systems.

In Short

• Nearly 1.2 billion people lived with mental disorders worldwide in 2023
• Anxiety and depression recorded sharp rises, especially in the post-pandemic years
• Women faced higher mental health burden than men across countries

Mental disorders have now become the leading cause of disability across the world, overtaking heart disease, cancer and musculoskeletal conditions.

Anxiety disorders and depression are driving much of this increase, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a major new study published in The Lancet.

The study found that nearly 1.2 billion people globally were living with a mental disorder in 2023, almost double the number recorded in 1990.

The report is part of the latest Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD 2023), led by researchers at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation in collaboration with the University of Queensland.

The study examined mental health trends across 204 countries and territories between 1990 and 2023, making it one of the largest analyses of mental disorders to date.

MENTAL DISORDERS NOW BIGGEST DRIVER OF DISABILITY

The researchers estimated that mental disorders caused 171 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) globally in 2023.

DALYs are a measure used to understand the total burden of disease. They combine years lost due to early death and years lived with illness or disability.

Mental disorders accounted for more than 17% of all years lived with disability worldwide in 2023, making them the single largest contributor to disability globally.

The study said mental disorders are now the fifth leading cause of overall disease burden worldwide, rising sharply from 12th place in 1990.

The number of people living with mental disorders increased by more than 95% between 1990 and 2023.

ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION DRIVING THE RISE

Among the different conditions studied, anxiety disorders and major depressive disorder emerged as the biggest contributors to the growing mental health burden.

Since 2019, the age-standardised prevalence of major depressive disorder has risen by around 24%, while anxiety disorders have increased by more than 47%.

Experts believe the Covid-19 pandemic played a major role in worsening mental health globally.

“These rising trends may reflect both the lingering effects of pandemic-related stress and longer-term structural drivers such as poverty, insecurity, abuse, violence, and declining social connectedness,” said Dr. Damian Santomauro, Associate Professor at the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research and one of the study’s lead authors.

He added that tackling the crisis would require “sustained investment in mental health systems, expanded access to care, and coordinated global action.”

TEENAGERS AND WOMEN MOST AFFECTED

The study found that mental disorders disproportionately affect adolescents and women.

Researchers said the burden of mental disorders was highest among people aged 15 to 19 years, a critical phase of life linked to education, employment and relationships.

“Our findings show that mental disorder burden peaks among 15–19-year-olds,” said co-author Dr. Alize Ferrari from the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research.

The report also found that women carry a higher mental health burden than men.

In 2023, around 620 million women worldwide were living with a mental disorder, compared to 552 million men.

Women also recorded higher disability rates linked to mental illness.

Researchers said factors such as domestic violence, sexual abuse, caregiving responsibilities and gender inequality may partly explain the difference.

MENTAL HEALTH CARE GAPS REMAIN HUGE

The study highlighted major gaps in access to mental health treatment globally, especially in low- and middle-income countries.

In fact, only around 9% of people with major depressive disorder worldwide receive minimally adequate treatment.

In nearly 90 countries, fewer than 5% of patients receive proper care.

Only a small number of high-income countries, including Australia, Canada and the Netherlands, reported treatment coverage above 30%.

The researchers warned that without stronger mental health systems, the burden is likely to continue rising.

They also called for better surveillance systems, early treatment programmes and policies tailored to different age groups and genders.

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

- Ends