The global burden of mental disorders has more than doubled since 1990, with new international research highlighting a rapidly growing mental health crisis affecting more than one billion people worldwide.
Health researchers and global agencies warn anxiety, depression and other mental health conditions are now among the leading causes of long-term disability and declining wellbeing across the world.
Recent data drawn from Global Burden of Disease studies shows sharp increases in mental health-related disability-adjusted life years since the early 1990s, with population growth, economic pressures, social disruption and the long-term impacts of Covid-19 all contributing to the trend.
The World Health Organization estimates more than one billion people are currently living with mental health conditions globally, with anxiety and depression among the most common disorders.
Young people are emerging as one of the most affected groups, with rising rates of depression, anxiety, self-harm and substance abuse reported internationally. Researchers say adolescents and young adults are facing mounting pressures linked to social media, economic uncertainty, climate anxiety and social isolation.
Women continue to experience higher rates of anxiety and depressive disorders, while suicide rates remain significantly higher among men in many countries.
The growing mental health burden is also having major economic consequences, with lost productivity, healthcare costs and long-term disability placing increasing strain on governments and public health systems.
Experts say lower-income communities and indigenous populations often experience disproportionate mental health impacts due to poverty, housing insecurity, intergenerational trauma and limited access to culturally appropriate healthcare services.
In Aotearoa, Māori health advocates have repeatedly raised concerns around inequities in mental health outcomes, access to support services, suicide prevention and culturally grounded care models.
The latest findings are expected to intensify calls for governments to increase investment in prevention, early intervention, community wellbeing programmes and mental health services, particularly for rangatahi and vulnerable communities.
Researchers warn that without urgent long-term investment and systemic reform, the global mental health burden is projected to continue rising over the next two decades.
