A profound global mental health crisis has unfolded over the past 30 years, with the number of people living with mental health conditions nearly doubling to affect approximately 1.2 billion people worldwide. The comprehensive analysis, published in the medical journal The Lancet as part of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023, reveals that health systems globally continue to treat mental health as a secondary priority despite escalating demand.
The statistical surge is primarily driven by sharp increases in major depressive disorder and anxiety disorders, which rose by 131% and 158% respectively since 1990, establishing them as the two most prevalent mental health conditions globally. This dramatic rise has positioned mental disorders as the leading cause of disability worldwide, surpassing cardiovascular diseases, cancer and musculoskeletal conditions.
The crisis is particularly acute in Greece, where the healthcare burden associated with mental health conditions now outpaces the Western European average.
Significant domestic burden in Greece
Data from the study shows that the number of individuals living with mental health disorders in Greece, adjusted for age and population demographics, increased from 14,156 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in 1990 to 19,551 per 100,000 in 2023. Alize Ferrari, an honorary associate professor at the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, confirmed that mental disorders constituted one of the primary drivers of health loss in Greece during 2023.
The study measures long-term health loss using Disability-Adjusted Life Years, which represent the number of healthy years lost due to illness, disability or premature death. In 2023, mental disorders contributed to 325,000 DALYs within the Greek population, marking a 135.5% increase compared to 1990 levels.
The mental health metric accounted for 8.5% of all-cause DALYs in Greece, ranking as the fifth most significant cause of overall health loss nationally. The statistical index for Greece stood at 3,005 DALYs per 100,000 inhabitants, noticeably exceeding both the Western European average of 2,744 DALYs and the global average of 2,070 DALYs per 100,000 population.
Demographic disparities and systemic shortfalls
The research, conducted by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington in collaboration with the University of Queensland, evaluated data across 204 countries and territories. The findings demonstrate that the burden is distributed unevenly, with the highest overall concentration recorded among teenagers aged 15 to 19 and women across all age brackets.
The study documented 620 million cases among females compared to 552 million cases among males. Authors noted that women experience a higher prevalence of depression, anxiety, eating disorders and bipolar disorder, frequently linked to structural inequalities, domestic abuse and biological transitions. Conversely, neurodevelopmental and behavioural conditions, including ADHD and autism, registered a higher frequency among men.
The report highlights a severe global deficit in psychiatric care and service expansion. Globally, only 9% of individuals diagnosed with major depression receive a basic standard of adequate treatment, while in 90 separate nations, less than 5% of the population has access to sufficient care. Out of the 204 regions analyzed, only a few high-income countries, including Australia, Canada and the Netherlands, maintain treatment coverage rates exceeding 30%.
Researchers identified specific environmental risk factors, including childhood trauma, bullying and domestic violence, but noted these variables accounted for only 18% of mental health DALYs in 2023. The broader surge is attributed to a complex interplay of genetic factors, poverty, economic inequality and compounding global crises, including geopolitical conflicts, pandemics and climate change impacts.
Sources: The Lancet, Euronews, Athens-Macedonian News Agency
