Study Reveals Alarming Trends in Mental Health Disorders
A comprehensive scientific study has revealed that approximately 1.2 billion individuals worldwide are living with a psychological disorder, a figure that is nearly double the recorded number in 1990. This staggering statistic has positioned mental health disorders as the leading cause of disability globally, surpassing conditions such as heart disease, cancer, and musculoskeletal disorders. The research, spearheaded by scientists at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation in collaboration with the University of Queensland, has been published in the esteemed medical journal, The Lancet. It stands as the most extensive study of its kind to date.
The study meticulously examined the prevalence and burden of mental health disorders among both men and women, spanning 25 age categories across 21 geographical regions and a total of 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2023. A total of 12 distinct psychological disorders were included in the analysis, with anxiety and major depressive disorders being the most impactful. These disorders ranked 11th and 15th, respectively, in terms of overall burden among 304 diseases and injuries assessed globally.
In 2023 alone, mental health disorders accounted for 171 million years of life adjusted for disability (YLD), making them the fifth largest contributor to the overall disease burden. Furthermore, these disorders represented over 17% of the total years that people live with disability, underscoring their increasingly significant impact on global health.
As reported by almarrakchia.net.
