Mental health - something many people still hide, something we often give second thoughts to before discussing openly, and something society is still learning to understand better - is a deeply serious issue that needs to be part of public discourse more than ever before. Even as conversations around mental health grow, stigma still surrounds it, and the rising numbers are becoming increasingly concerning.
A new study published in The Lancet has now painted a concerning picture of the scale of this crisis. The large global analysis, based on the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2023, found that the burden of mental disorders worldwide has nearly doubled since 1990, making mental illness one of the leading causes of disability across the world today.
The findings arrive at a time when conversations around mental health are becoming more urgent than ever. The long-term psychological effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic uncertainty, conflict, climate anxiety, loneliness, social media pressures, and growing urban stress are increasingly affecting mental wellbeing across age groups.
This concern becomes even more alarming considering that a 2025 research estimate suggested that globally, only 6.9 per cent of people living with mental health or substance-use disorders receive effective treatment for their conditions.
A growing global mental health crisis
According to the Lancet study, there were an estimated 1.17 billion prevalent cases of mental disorders globally in 2023. This translated to an age-standardised prevalence rate of 14,210.7 cases per 100,000 population.
The study noted that these estimates represented a massive 95.5 per cent increase in prevalent mental disorder cases between 1990 and 2023. Even after adjusting for population growth and ageing, the age-standardised prevalence rate increased by 24.2 per cent during the same period.
Researchers analysed a wide range of mental disorders, including anxiety disorders, major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorders, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), eating disorders, conduct disorder, and intellectual disabilities.
The report stated that all mental disorders showed increases in total prevalent cases over the past three decades. Particularly notable rises were observed in anxiety disorders, major depressive disorder, dysthymia, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, schizophrenia, and conduct disorder.
The researchers used a combination of epidemiological data reviews and Bayesian meta-regression models to estimate prevalence across sex, age groups, countries, and years. They also calculated disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), a measure that combines years lived with disability and years of life lost due to premature death.
According to the findings, mental disorders accounted for an estimated 171 million DALYs globally in 2023. The age-standardised DALY rate stood at 2070.5 DALYs per 100,000 population.
The study further highlighted that mental disorders contributed to 6.1 per cent of all global DALYs in 2023, making them the fifth leading cause of global disease burden, compared to 12th place in 1990.
“Mental disorders were the leading cause of YLDs in 2023 (up from second in 1990), explaining 17.3% of all-cause global YLDs,” the report stated.
It added that anxiety disorders ranked among the highest contributors to mental health-related disability worldwide, followed by major depressive disorder and schizophrenia.
Why is the burden becoming more concerning
One of the most worrying findings from the study is how strongly mental illness is affecting younger populations. According to the analysis, mental disorder DALY rates globally peaked in the 15–19 years age group, with adolescents and young adults carrying some of the highest mental health burdens worldwide.
The study also found that females experienced higher age-standardised DALY rates than males globally. Researchers estimated female mental disorder DALY rates at 2239.6 per 100,000 population compared to 1900.2 among males.
The report further noted that the burden of mental disorders affected every country and territory analysed, regardless of the level of healthcare resources available. Mental disorder DALY rates ranged from 1302.4 per 100,000 population in Vietnam to 3555.8 per 100,000 in the Netherlands.
Importantly, the researchers stressed that the burden is not distributed equally across populations.
“A significant health burden was imposed by mental disorders in all countries and territories in 2023, irrespective of the health resources available,” the study stated.
The report also emphasised that mental disorders are often under-recognised, underdiagnosed, and undertreated, especially in low-income and middle-income countries where surveillance systems and healthcare access remain weak.
The researchers warned that stronger surveillance systems, particularly in developing nations, are urgently required alongside more inclusive mental health policies focused on prevention, early treatment, and tailored interventions across different age groups and genders.
“Responding to the mental health needs of our global population, especially those most vulnerable, is an obligation, not a choice,” the report added.
India’s growing mental health burden
India too is witnessing a significant and growing mental health burden. According to government data, India contributes nearly 18% of the global population, making mental health a major public health concern for the country.
The government data states that “WHO estimates that the burden of mental health problems in India is 2443 disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) per 10000 population; the age-adjusted suicide rate per 100000 population is 21.1.”
It further added that “the economic loss due to mental health conditions, between 2012-2030, is estimated at USD 1.03 trillion.”
Several national studies have also highlighted the widespread prevalence of mental disorders in the country. The National Mental Health Survey (NMHS) 2015-16 conducted by National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences found that 10.6% of adults in India suffer from mental disorders, while the lifetime prevalence of mental disorders in India stands at 13.7%.
National studies also reveal that nearly 15% of India’s adult population experiences mental health issues requiring intervention. Urban regions were found to have a higher prevalence of mental disorders at 13.5%, compared to 6.9% in rural areas.
One of the biggest concerns highlighted in the data is the treatment gap. According to the government, “70% to 92% of people with mental disorders do not receive proper treatment due to lack of awareness, stigma, and shortage of professionals.”
The shortage of mental healthcare professionals also remains a major concern. According to the Indian Journal of Psychiatry, India currently has only 0.75 psychiatrists per 100,000 people, whereas the WHO recommends at least three psychiatrists per 100,000 population.
‘Awareness alone is not enough’
Ms Neha K, Specialist – Psychology at Aster CMI Hospital, said the sharp rise in mental health disorders globally can be attributed to major social, emotional, and lifestyle changes that have taken place over the years. According to her, while increasing awareness has helped more people identify symptoms and seek help, the emotional instability and trauma people experience in today’s world are also significantly contributing to the growing burden.
“The stress generated due to academics, work pressure, financial situations, relationship problems, comparison on social media, loneliness, and uncertainties about the future is impacting the emotional wellbeing of people, particularly youngsters,” she said.
She added that the COVID-19 pandemic created a “global abnormality” that increased anxiety, grief, isolation, and emotional exhaustion. At the same time, many countries still lack access to psychiatrists, wellbeing centres, early counselling, and emotional support services. According to her, stigma and poor availability of services continue to delay treatment for many people.
“Awareness alone is not enough unless it is supported with timely intervention, skill development, emotionally supportive family environments, and emotional support services,” Neha said.
Speaking about why adolescents, young adults, and women are carrying a higher mental health burden globally, Neha explained that these groups often experience a combination of emotional, social, and biological pressures simultaneously.
According to her, “adolescents and young adults today face academic competition, career uncertainty, social media pressures, body image concerns, cyberbullying, and FOMO, all of which can contribute to anxiety and depression.” She added that loneliness, poor sleep, and reduced real-world social interaction are further worsening emotional wellbeing among younger populations.
Neha also noted that women often deal with additional pressures linked to hormonal changes, caregiving responsibilities, workplace stress, safety concerns, and balancing personal and professional lives. In many societies, women are also more likely to experience emotional abuse, discrimination, and undervaluation.
“Psychologists have also pointed out that women are more willing to openly report emotional distress, so the heightened burden may partly reflect that as well,” she said.
Speaking about the treatment gap, Neha said that despite increasing awareness around mental health, many people still do not seek or receive proper treatment because of multiple barriers.
“Apart from stigma, people are often afraid of social rejection or being labelled as ‘weak’ or ‘psychologically unfit’, especially in countries like India,” she said.
She explained that many individuals fail to recognise symptoms early or believe that stress and anxiety are temporary and will pass with time. According to her, shortage of trained mental health professionals, especially in smaller towns and rural areas, remains another major challenge.
Neha further pointed out that mental healthcare can also be expensive and inaccessible for many families, while busy lifestyles, lack of emotional support, fear around medications, and poor mental health awareness continue to delay treatment-seeking behaviour.
“Improving early counselling interventions, affordable mental healthcare services, and normalising conversations around mental health will help reduce this treatment gap,” she said.
This story is done in collaboration with First Check, which is the health journalism vertical of DataLEADS
