Mental health disorders affect one in seven globally
Approximately one in seven people worldwide, totaling 1.1 billion individuals in 2021, experienced a mental disorder. Anxiety and depression are the most common, and despite effective treatments, most lack access to care.
Globally, nearly one in seven people, or 1.1 billion individuals in 2021, were living with a mental disorder, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Anxiety and depressive disorders are the most prevalent. Despite the existence of effective prevention and treatment options, the majority of those affected do not have access to adequate care.
Mental disorders are characterized by clinically significant disturbances in an individual's cognition, emotion regulation, or behavior, often leading to distress or functional impairment. The WHO's data indicates that anxiety disorders affected 359 million people in 2021, while depression impacted 280 million individuals as of 2019. Other conditions, such as bipolar disorder, affected 37 million people in 2021.
These conditions can significantly disrupt daily life and lead to lasting suffering if left untreated. Mental health disorders are associated with an increased risk of suicide. For example, both depression and bipolar disorder carry a higher risk of self-harm.
However, effective treatment options are available for many mental health disorders, including psychological therapies and medication. These interventions can improve patients' quality of life and functional capacity.