Global Mental Illness Hits 1.2 Billion in 2023 as Cases Shift to Ages 15-19
Updated
Updated · 매일경제 · May 22
Global Mental Illness Hits 1.2 Billion in 2023 as Cases Shift to Ages 15-19
5 articles · Updated · 매일경제 · May 22
About 1.2 billion people worldwide had a mental disorder in 2023, up 95.5% from 1990, with researchers saying the burden has entered a more worrying phase.
Anxiety disorders rose 158% and depression 131%, with both remaining elevated after COVID-19 rather than returning to pre-pandemic levels.
The heaviest burden is now concentrated among ages 15-19, marking a shift from middle age and pointing to growing pressure on younger people.
Researchers linked the rise to economic instability, war, political conflict, social isolation, food insecurity, discrimination and body-image stress, alongside better awareness and diagnosis.
Mental health services are still expanding too slowly to match demand, prompting calls for stronger government action across 204 countries covered by the Lancet-backed analysis.
Is our focus on treatment ignoring the societal failures—poverty, inequality, climate change—that are fueling this global mental health crisis?
As digital mental health booms, how can we prevent technology from widening the care gap for the world's most vulnerable?
With mental illness starting in youth, how must we redesign education to build resilience rather than just treating disorders later?
The Escalating Global Mental Health Crisis: DALYs, Economic Impact, and Urgent Solutions
Overview
The global mental health crisis is escalating rapidly, with 2023 marking a new high in both prevalence and impact. Over the past decades, mental disorders have surged, leading to a dramatic rise in Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs)—418 million in 2019, accounting for 16% of global DALYs, which is more than three times previous estimates. This trend highlights a significant increase in the incidence of mental disorders worldwide since 1990. The growing burden not only affects public health but also imposes a massive economic cost, emphasizing the urgent need for effective global action and improved mental health care access.