Gaby
Experts have examined 13 mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It turns out that one in three people (most often women) has suffered from clinical depression at some point in their lives. Moreover, a large-scale study indicates that half of the global population will deal with this affliction, anxiety, and some other mental disorders by the age of 75.
Mental Health Declines Worldwide
To identify trends in diagnoses, researchers relied on two decades of WHO surveys that represented over 156,000 adults from 29 countries. They projected that one in two people may experience at least one mental health disorder before reaching old age. This is a significant increase from 2019, when it was estimated that one in eight individuals faced such challenges.
The overall lifetime risk of developing a mental illness was 46% for male participants and slightly higher at 53% for females. Women were particularly at risk for PTSD, while men were more likely to struggle with alcohol abuse. Notably, major depressive disorder and specific phobias were equally prevalent among both genders.
As researchers noted in the Daily Mail, the rate of mental illnesses in the U.S. has significantly worsened in recent years. During this time, the number of suicides in the country rose from nearly 46,000 to 48,000. The latest analysis emphasizes that this crisis is not confined to the United States but has reached global proportions affecting populations worldwide.
Mental Disorders More Common in Women
Researchers conducted a comprehensive analysis based on personal interview data from 156,331 individuals worldwide from 2001 to 2022. These interviews were part of a mental health study conducted by the WHO, which included data from 29 countries (the U.S., Qatar, Israel, Mexico, Japan, New Zealand, and several countries in Europe, Africa, and South America).
Lead author of the study, Dr. John McGrath, noted that mood disorders, such as severe depression or anxiety, were the most common. The research team also found that the risk of certain mental disorders varies by gender.
Women reported having a diagnosis of an anxiety disorder during their lifetime significantly more often than men (nearly 19% compared to 11%). They also had a slightly higher likelihood of any mental disorder overall—29.8% compared to 28.6% for men.
At the time of the survey, the most common mental health issue among men (14%) was risky alcohol use and abuse (classified separately from alcohol dependence). Major depressive disorder ranked second, reported by 7.5% of men. An additional 5% reported having a specific phobia, defined as debilitating anxiety that interferes with daily life.
Meanwhile, women most frequently reported major depressive disorder, with a prevalence of 13.6%, which is twice as common as in men. Women were also twice as likely to suffer from a specific phobia.
Understanding the Likelihood of Mental Disorders Will Aid Professionals
This extensive study is valuable for its ability to help researchers quantitatively assess the impact of various mental disorders on a broad population. It also highlighted that any of these disorders typically begin at a young age—around 15 years old.
Based on the findings, the team of international researchers concluded that there is a need for increased financial and social investments. This would enable better diagnosis and treatment of individuals at a much earlier age, significantly enhancing their chances of a longer life.
Dr. Ronald Kessler emphasized that services must be able to quickly identify and treat common mental disorders and be optimized according to patients’ needs during these critical times in their lives. He stated that understanding the age at which these issues arise allows for the adaptation of public health interventions and the allocation of resources to ensure proper and timely support for at-risk individuals.
