Mental health disorders surge globally, but investment remains stagnant
The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2023 update, published in The Lancet, shows that mental health conditions are rising faster than almost any other group of disorders worldwide. Drawing on data from more than 200 countries, the study remains the most comprehensive analysis of global health loss and life expectancy.
Since 1990, anxiety disorders have increased by 62.8% and depressive disorders by 26.3%, with sharp rises also seen in substance use disorders and eating disorders. Together, mental and substance use conditions now account for nearly one in five years lived with disability worldwide — a burden that has continued to grow even as mortality from infectious diseases and maternal causes has declined.
The report highlights complex contributing factors: social and economic stressors, conflict, displacement, climate-related distress, and long-term aftereffects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Researchers note that while treatment advances exist, gaps in access and stigma mean that the majority of people with mental health disorders receive no effective care.
“The rise of depression and anxiety is very concerning,” said Chris Murray, Director of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). “We need to pay attention to what’s driving it.”
Despite this trend, mental health remains chronically underfunded. A WHO Europe report earlier this year showed that, on average, just 2% of health budgets are dedicated to mental health — a proportion unchanged in recent years.
The GBD findings underscore the widening mismatch between global disease burden and policy response. Addressing this requires coordinated national strategies, stronger prevention, and innovation in care models. As PAREA has argued, mental health investment should be seen not only as a moral imperative but as essential infrastructure for social and economic resilience.
