A recent global study has brought to light alarming mental health trends that have profound implications for society.
The results are nothing short of eye-opening - one in two people will develop a mental health disorder in their lifetime, with 50 per cent of the population at risk by the age of 75. Mood disorders such as major depression and anxiety were identified as the most common, affecting individuals from diverse backgrounds.
The study, co-led by researchers from The University of Queensland and Harvard Medical School, analysed data from over 150,000 adults across 29 countries between 2001 and 2022, making it the most extensive coordinated series of face-to-face interviews under the World Health Organisation's World Mental Health Survey initiative.
The study is published in The Lancet Psychiatry.
Lead author, Professor John McGrath from UQ's Queensland Brain Institute, emphasised the gender differences in mental health risks.
"The most common were mood disorders such as major depression or anxiety," Professor McGrath said.
"We also found the risk of certain mental disorders differed by sex."
The 3 most common mental health disorders among women:
Depression
Specific phobia (a disabling anxiety that interferes with daily life)
Post-traumatic stress (PTSD)
The 3 most common mental health disorders among men:
Alcohol abuse
Depression
Specific phobia
The research also found mental health disorders typically first emerge in childhood, adolescence or young adulthood.
Professor Ronald Kessler from Harvard Medical School said investment was also needed in mental health services with a particular focus on young people.
"Services need to be able to detect and treat common mental disorders promptly, and be optimised to suit patients in these critical parts of their lives," Professor Kessler said.
"By understanding the age at which these disorders commonly arise, we can tailor public health interventions and allocate resources to ensure that appropriate and timely support is available to individuals at risk."
The researchers said the outcomes provide valuable insights into the frequency and timing of mental disorder onset based on many different populations.