Mental health disorders are a growing concern worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), one in four people in the world will be affected by mental or neurological disorders at some point in their lives.
Published On
December 19, 2023
Reviewed By Dr. Gall, Medical Director of Mainspring Recovery
Mental health disorders are a growing concern worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), one in four people in the world will be affected by mental or neurological disorders at some point in their lives. Here are 45 mental health disorder statistics that shed light on the prevalence of mental health disorders and the impact they have on people's lives.
Top 10 Key Mental Health Disorder Statistics
Mental health disorders affect people of all ages, races, and genders. In fact, mental illnesses are the leading cause of disability worldwide. (WHO)
Mental health disorders are common in children and adolescents, with 10-20% of them experiencing mental disorders. (WHO)
In the United States, mental health disorders are the second leading cause of disability, with depression being the leading cause. (National Institute of Mental Health)
Mental health disorders are more common in women than men, with an estimated 1 in 5 women experiencing a mental health disorder in their lifetime. (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
In 2020, over 50% of adults in the United States reported that their mental health had been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. (Kaiser Family Foundation)
Suicide is the second leading cause of death among people aged 15-29 globally. (WHO)
Only 44% of adults with diagnosable mental illnesses receive treatment. (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
LGBTQ+ individuals are at a higher risk for mental health disorders due to discrimination and other stressors. (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
Veterans are also at a higher risk for mental health disorders, with an estimated 17% of post-9/11 veterans experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). (Department of Veterans Affairs)
People with lower income levels are more likely to experience mental health disorders. (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
Depression Statistics
Depression affects more than 264 million people worldwide. (WHO)
Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide. (WHO)
In the United States, over 17 million adults experienced at least one major depressive episode in 2019. (National Institute of Mental Health)
Women are twice as likely as men to experience depression. (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
Anxiety Statistics
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health disorders in the United States, affecting over 40 million adults. (Anxiety and Depression Association of America)
Anxiety disorders can develop at any age, with the median age of onset being 31. (Anxiety and Depression Association of America)
Women are more likely to develop anxiety disorders than men. (National Institute of Mental Health)
Eating Disorder Statistics
Eating disorders affect an estimated 9% of the global population. (National Eating Disorders Association)
Anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality rate of any mental health disorder, with a mortality rate of 10-20%. (National Eating Disorders Association)
In the United States, 20 million women and 10 million men will develop an eating disorder at some point in their lives. (National Eating Disorders Association)
Substance Abuse Disorder Statistics
Substance abuse disorders affect approximately 20 million people in the United States. (National Institute on Drug Abuse)
In 2019, over 70,000 people in the United States died from drug overdoses. (National Institute on Drug Abuse)
Alcohol abuse is the third leading cause of preventable deaths in the United States, with an estimated 88,000 deaths per year. (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism)
Schizophrenia Statistics
Schizophrenia affects approximately 20 million people worldwide. (WHO)
The onset of schizophrenia typically occurs in the late teens to mid-30s. (National Institute of Mental Health)
Schizophrenia affects men and women equally. (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
Bipolar Disorder Statistics
Bipolar disorder affects approximately 45 million people worldwide. (WHO)
The median age of onset for bipolar disorder is 25. (National Institute of Mental Health)
Bipolar disorder affects men and women equally. (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Statistics
PTSD affects approximately 3.5% of adults in the United States every year. (National Institute of Mental Health)
Women are more likely than men to develop PTSD, with an estimated 10% of women experiencing PTSD at some point in their lives compared to 4% of men. (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs)
Trauma survivors who have a history of mental health disorders or substance abuse are more likely to develop PTSD. (National Center for PTSD)
One study found that up to 60% of men and 50% of women who experience traumatic events may develop PTSD. (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs)
The symptoms of PTSD can manifest immediately after a traumatic event or weeks, months, or even years later. (American Psychiatric Association)
Prevalence of Any Mental Illness (AMI)
In the United States, approximately 51.5 million adults experienced any mental illness in 2019, which is equivalent to 20.6% of the adult population. (National Survey on Drug Use and Health)
Among adults aged 18-25 in the United States, the prevalence of any mental illness was higher at 29.4%. (National Survey on Drug Use and Health)
In the United Kingdom, one in four people will experience a mental health problem each year. (Mental Health Foundation)
In Australia, an estimated 4 million people experienced a common mental disorder in 2018, which is equivalent to 16% of the population. (Australian Bureau of Statistics)
In Canada, an estimated 6.7 million people aged 15 or older experienced a mental health or substance use disorder in the past year, which is equivalent to 22% of the population in that age group. (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health)
Prevalence of Any Mental Disorder Among Adolescents
Approximately 1 in 6 adolescents (ages 6-17) in the United States experience a mental health disorder each year. (National Institute of Mental Health)
The most common mental health disorders among adolescents are anxiety, depression, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). (Child Mind Institute)
In Australia, an estimated one in seven young people aged 4-17 experienced a mental health condition in the past year. (Australian Government Department of Health)
In Canada, an estimated 1.2 million children and youth are affected by mental illness. (Children's Mental Health Ontario)
In the United Kingdom, approximately 1 in 8 children and young people aged 5 to 19 have a diagnosable mental health disorder. (NHS Digital)
Mental Health Disorder by Age
Mental health disorders are the most common health conditions affecting adolescents and young adults aged 10-24 years globally, with depression being the leading cause of illness and disability in this age group. (WHO)
In the United States, mental health disorders affect 1 in 5 adults aged 18-25 and 1 in 6 adults aged 26-49. (National Institute of Mental Health)
Older adults aged 65 years and older are at a higher risk for developing depression, with an estimated 7 million adults over the age of 65 experiencing depression each year in the United States. (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
The prevalence of anxiety disorders decreases with age, with only around 5% of people over the age of 65 experiencing an anxiety disorder compared to around 30% of people aged 18-29. (Anxiety and Depression Association of America)
Eating disorders can occur at any age, but they are most common in adolescents and young adults aged between 12 to early twenties, with females being more likely to develop eating disorders than males. (National Eating Disorders Association)
Mental Health Disorder by Gender
Men seek treatment for mental health disorders less than women, with only one-third of men seeking help compared to half of women. This disparity is more pronounced among men of color and from low-income backgrounds.
Women are more likely to experience anxiety and mood disorders, while men are more likely to experience substance abuse disorders and antisocial personality disorder.
Men have a higher suicide rate than women, with four times as many men dying from suicide than women.
Women are more likely to develop PTSD due to sexual assault or abuse, while men are more likely to develop PTSD due to accidents, physical assaults, combat exposure, or witnessing death or injury.
Transgender individuals have a higher risk for mental health disorders due to discrimination and lack of access to healthcare resources. In 2015, 40% of transgender adults reported having made a suicide attempt in their lifetime, with rates higher for transgender people of color.
Mental Health Disorders by Demographic
Non-Hispanic Asian: 16.4%
Non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander: 18.1%
Non-Hispanic Black or African American: 21.4%
Hispanic or Latino: 20.7%
Non-Hispanic White: 23.9%
Non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native: 26.6%
Non-Hispanic mixed/multiracial: 34.9%
Conclusion
Mental health disorders affect millions of people worldwide and can have a significant impact on individuals, families, and communities. Despite the prevalence of mental health issues, many people do not receive the treatment they need. This is due to a variety of factors such as stigma surrounding mental illness, lack of access to healthcare resources, and socio-economic disparities.
It is crucial that we continue to raise awareness about mental health disorders and work towards creating a more inclusive and accessible healthcare system that prioritizes mental health care. By doing so, we can help ensure that everyone has the support they need to live happy, healthy lives.
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