The numbers behind global mental health and its different disorders
Al Jazeera
Last updated: May 21, 2026
The World Health Organization (WHO) is convening for its 79th World Health Assembly to discuss mental health, a growing global crisis affecting one in eight people. Despite its prevalence, mental health services are severely underfunded, with significant disparities in per capita spending between high-income and low-income countries.
- Mental health disorders, encompassing conditions that affect mood, thought, and behavior, are on the rise globally. Anxiety and depressive disorders are the most common, with young people disproportionately affected. Suicide remains a critical issue, with one death occurring every 43 seconds, and it is a leading cause of death among young adults.
- Anxiety disorders affect an estimated 359 million people, with women and young people being more likely to experience them. Depressive disorders are the leading cause of disability worldwide, impacting women more significantly due to factors like violence and hormonal changes.
- Treatment access and funding for mental health are starkly unequal. Low-income countries spend as little as $0.04 per capita, while high-income countries spend significantly more. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the mental health crisis, leading to a surge in anxiety and depression globally.
