A comprehensive study found that one in two individuals globally will experience a mental health disorder in their lifetime.
Analyzing data from over 150,000 adults across 29 countries, the researchers found that 50% of the population will develop at least one disorder by age 75, with mood disorders like depression and anxiety being the most common.
The study highlighted different prevalence of mental disorders between genders and pointed out that mental health issues typically emerge during childhood, adolescence, or young adulthood.
Key Facts:
- The study analyzed the largest-ever coordinated series of face-to-face interviews taken from the World Health Organisation’s World Mental Health Survey initiative.
- The three most common mental health disorders among women are depression, specific phobia, and PTSD, while for men, they are alcohol abuse, depression, and specific phobia.
- The research indicates that the median age of onset for mental health disorders is 19 for men and 20 for women.
Professor John McGrath from UQ’s Queensland Brain Institute, Professor Ronald Kessler from Harvard Medical School, and their colleagues from 27 other countries analyzed data from more than 150,000 adults across 29 countries between 2001 and 2022, taken from the largest ever coordinated series of face-to-face interviews – the World Health Organisation’s World Mental Health Survey initiative.
Lead author Professor McGrath said the results demonstrate the high prevalence of mental health disorders, with 50 percent of the population developing at least one disorder by age 75.
“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 three most common mental health disorders among women:
- Depression
- Specific phobia (a disabling anxiety that interferes with daily life)
- Post-traumatic stress (PTSD)
The three most common mental health disorders among men:
- Alcohol abuse
- Depression
- Specific phobia
The research also found that mental health disorders typically emerge in childhood, adolescence, or early adulthood.
“The peak age of first onset was at 15 years old, with a median age of onset of 19 for men and 20 for women,” Professor McGrath said.
“This lends weight to the need to invest in basic neuroscience to understand why these disorders develop.”
Professor Kessler said investment was also needed in mental health services focusing on young people.
“Services need to be able to detect and treat common mental disorders promptly and be optimized 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 populations.