The number of people living with mental health conditions has nearly doubled over the past 30 years, driven mainly by sharp rises in anxiety and depression worldwide, according to a new study.
The analysis, published in the medical journal The Lancet as part of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023, estimates that around 1.2 billion people were living with a mental health condition in 2023.
That marks a 95% increase since 1990. The rise was even steeper for major depressive disorder and anxiety disorders, which increased by 131% and 158% respectively, making them the world’s two most common mental health conditions.
“Responding to the mental health needs of our global population, especially those most vulnerable, is an obligation, not a choice,” the authors wrote.
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The report describes mental disorders as widespread illnesses that cause major human suffering and long-term health loss. Beyond the personal toll, the authors said mental illness also affects families, workplaces, and governments through reduced productivity, lower workforce participation, and growing pressure on welfare and healthcare systems.
Not everyone suffers equally
While mental health conditions have increased globally, the burden is not shared evenly.
The authors 620 million cases of mental disorders among females and 552 million among males, though they noted that little research has been done to quantify drivers of the sex difference in mental disorders.
“Compared with males, females experience lower self-esteem, greater tendency towards body-related shame, and higher rates of domestic violence and sexual abuse,” the report said.
Other factors that could explain this difference include biological changes – particularly across the peripartum period – increased career responsibilities, and structural inequalities such as gender discrimination.
Among women, depression and anxiety were the most common conditions. Persistent depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, anorexia nervosa, and bulimia nervosa were also more prevalent in women.
By contrast, neurodevelopmental and behavioural conditions — including ADHD, conduct disorder, and autism — were more common among men.
The highest mental health burden globally was found among teenagers aged 15 to 19, highlighting the need for earlier prevention and targeted support for young people.
What is driving the increase?
The report identified several major risk factors linked to mental illness, including childhood sexual violence, intimate partner violence, and bullying. These were associated with conditions such as schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, conduct disorder, and bulimia nervosa.
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However, researchers said these factors alone do not explain the surge in cases. Exposure rates remained relatively stable over time and accounted for only 18% of mental disorder Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) in 2023 — a measure of years of healthy life lost due to illness or disability.
The authors said mental health outcomes are likely shaped by a more complex mix of influences, including genetics, biology, poverty, rising inequality, and major global crises such as war, pandemics, natural disasters, and climate change.
Although mental disorders have long been one of the leading causes of disability worldwide, the report warns that the global burden is continuing to worsen.
At the same time, the expansion of mental health services has failed to keep pace with growing demand.
“Concerningly, this increase in burden has not been accompanied by proportional expansion of mental health services globally,” the authors wrote.
