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A sweeping new global study has revealed a staggering rise in mental health disorders, showing that nearly 1.2 billion people were living with mental health conditions in 2023. The findings point to a dramatic 95.5% increase since 1990, with anxiety and depression driving much of the surge and reshaping the global health landscape in ways experts say are deeply concerning.

Global Surge in Mental Disorders

The study, published Thursday in the journal The Lancet, analyzed trends across 204 countries and territories and found that mental health conditions are not only rising but accelerating in scale and complexity.

Nearly 1.2 billion people worldwide had mental disorders in 2023, reflecting a 95.5% increase since 1990, a new study has found.

Researchers identified anxiety and depression as the most common conditions worldwide in 2023, followed by personality disorders not linked with other mental or substance use disorders.

The authors warned that global patterns suggest worsening conditions ahead, noting “that we are entering an even more concerning phase of worsening mental disorder burden globally,” the authors wrote in the study.

Researchers Stunned by the Scale of the Increase

Dr. Damian Santomauro, first and lead study author, described the results as unexpectedly severe.

“was honestly shocked at the magnitude,” he said via email.

He added that multiple forces are driving the trend.

“There are many factors at play here, and it is difficult to tease them all apart,” added Santomauro, associate professor in the School of Public Health at the University of Queensland in Australia. “Addressing these risk factors requires global collective leadership.”

Wide Range of Disorders Examined

The research covered 12 mental disorders, including bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, anorexia, bulimia, dysthymia, conduct disorder and developmental intellectual disability from unknown causes.

Dysthymia refers to a long-term but milder form of depression, also known as persistent depressive disorder. Conduct disorder affects children and teens and is marked by ongoing patterns of disobedient and aggressive behavior.

All 12 disorders showed increases since 1990. Anxiety rose by 158% and depression increased by 131% over the period.

Even the least common conditions showed significant global presence in 2023, including roughly 4 million cases of anorexia, 14 million cases of bulimia and 26 million cases of schizophrenia.

Most mental disorders were more common in females. However, autism, conduct disorders, ADHD, personality disorders and intellectual disability of unknown cause were more common in males.

Pandemic Impact and Rising Anxiety Trends

Researchers also highlighted how the Covid-19 pandemic intensified existing mental health trends.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, rates of anxiety, depression and some other disorders were already increasing. During and after the crisis, depression rose further and has not returned to pre-pandemic levels. Anxiety peaked and remained elevated through 2023.

Experts say multiple factors may explain the rise, including improved detection, reduced stigma and population growth, alongside worsening social and economic pressures.

“if you take a step back and look at the conditions in which people are living, it’s sadly not surprising,” Trestman said of the increases.

Dr. Robert Trestman, chair of psychiatry and behavioral medicine at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, noted that the adolescent years are especially sensitive to long-term mental health outcomes.

“The stigma of mental illness has been substantially reduced — people are much more comfortable coming forward, as opposed to suffering in silence,” Trestman said.

Dr. Arthur Evans, CEO of the American Psychological Association, said improvements in diagnosis and awareness are also contributing to higher recorded rates.

“if you take a step back and look at the conditions in which people are living, it’s sadly not surprising,” Trestman said of the increases. Many factors are triggering or compounding mental health conditions, experts said, including genetics, economic instability, trauma, inadequate or unaffordable healthcare, political conflict and instability, warfare, food insecurity, intimate partner violence, body image issues, discrimination, declining social connection, environmental threats and more.

Youth Mental Health Shift Raises Concern

The Global Burden of Disease study found that mental health conditions are now a leading cause of disability worldwide, with the highest burden among females and people ages 15 to 39.

Researchers noted a striking shift: the peak burden now occurs among those ages 15 to 19, a first in the study’s history.

Dr. Santomauro said this marks a major change in global patterns, which previously peaked in middle age.

Experts warn that adolescence is a critical period for brain development, meaning early mental health disruptions can have lifelong consequences.

“Concerningly, this increase in burden has not been accompanied by proportional expansion of mental health services,” the authors wrote. “Responding to the mental health needs of our global population, especially those most vulnerable, is an obligation, not a choice.”

Barriers to Care and Call for Action

Despite rising need, access to mental health services remains uneven across countries, leaving millions without adequate support.

Experts emphasize that treatment gaps must be addressed through policy reform, expanded healthcare systems and improved funding for mental health services.

They also point to lifestyle and behavioral supports such as improved sleep, exercise, nutrition, social connection and work life balance as important tools for prevention and recovery.

For those struggling, global support resources exist, including Mental Health America, the National Alliance for Eating Disorders helpline, Mind in the United Kingdom, the International Association for Suicide Prevention and Befrienders Worldwide, and Australia’s Butterfly Foundation.

The study is based on data from the 2023 Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries and Risk Factors Study, one of the largest global health research efforts, coordinated by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington with contributions from thousands of researchers worldwide.