World Mental Health Day: 10 Facts on Mental Health Issues

Good mental health is related to mental and psychological well-being. Throughout the world, mental illness, also called mental health disorders, refers to a wide range of mental health conditions — disorders that affect your mood, thinking and behavior.

Examples of mental illness include depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, eating disorders and addictive behaviors. Below are 10 Facts on Mental Health Issues:

  • Mental, neurological and substance use disorders make up 10% of the global burden of disease and 25.1% of non-fatal disease burden.
  • Depression is a common mental disorder. Globally, it is estimated that 5% of adults suffer from depression.
  • Globally, mental disorders account for 1 in 6 years lived with disability.
  • More than 700,000 people die by suicide every year. Suicide accounts for 1 in 100 deaths globally. Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death in individuals aged 15-29 years.
  • Around 1 in 9 people in settings affected by conflict have a moderate or severe mental disorder.
  • People with severe mental disorders die 10 to 20 years earlier than the general population.
  • In low-income countries there are fewer than one mental health staff per 100,000 population, compared with more than 60 in high-income countries
  • 40% of low-income countries do not include essential medicines that have been on the WHO Model list for essential medicines for decades, such as lithium carbonate mood stabilizer for bipolar disorder.
  • The global economy loses about US$ 1 trillion per year in productivity due to depression and anxiety.

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