Statistics on mental health
Pro Research Analysisby 
Searched over 200M research papers
Statistics on Mental Health
Prevalence of Mental Health Issues During the COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted mental health worldwide. A meta-review of 18 meta-analyses revealed that the prevalence of psychophysiological stress, which includes sleep disturbances, psychological distress, stress, and burnout, was 31.99% in the general population (GP) and 37.74% among healthcare workers (HCW) 1. Insomnia affected 32.34% of individuals, psychological distress 28.25%, and stress 36% 1. Psychopathology, encompassing anxiety, depression, and PTSD, was present in 26.45% of the sample, with anxiety at 27.77%, depression at 26.93%, and PTSD at 20% 1. These findings highlight the substantial mental health burden during the pandemic, particularly among healthcare workers.
Mental Health Among Children and Adolescents in the United States
Mental health issues among children and adolescents in the United States are a significant public health concern. Data from 2013 to 2019 indicate that attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and anxiety were the most prevalent disorders, each affecting approximately 9.4% to 9.8% of children aged 3-17 years 2. Among adolescents aged 12-17 years, 20.9% had experienced a major depressive episode, and 36.7% of high school students reported feeling persistently sad or hopeless in the past year 2. Alarmingly, 18.8% of high school students had seriously considered attempting suicide, and the suicide rate among individuals aged 10-19 years was approximately seven per 100,000 in 2018 and 2019 2. These statistics underscore the urgent need for effective mental health interventions for young people.
Global Epidemiology and Data Gaps in Mental Health
Globally, mental disorders are a critical but often neglected aspect of public health. A review of population-based epidemiological studies found that fewer than 1% of the 77,000 data sources identified could be used for deriving national estimates of prevalence, incidence, remission, and mortality in mental disorders 3. The major limitations included variable regional coverage and methodological issues such as inconsistent case definitions and incomplete reporting 3. North America and Australasia had the most comprehensive data, while coverage was highly variable in Europe, Latin America, and Asia Pacific, and poor in other regions of Asia and Africa 3. This lack of comprehensive data hampers effective public health planning and policy-making for mental health.
Mental Health Statistics in Australia
In Australia, mental health issues are a leading cause of non-fatal disease burden. Approximately 20% of Australians experience a current and chronic mental health or behavioral condition 4. Mental illness is the third leading cause of total disease burden in the country, with direct costs amounting to at least $28.6 billion annually 4. Current treatment options are often inadequate, with typical treatments working for only about half of those affected, and many individuals continuing to experience symptoms or relapsing within a year or two after treatment stops 4. These statistics highlight the need for improved mental health care and innovative treatment approaches.
Trends in Mental Health Treatment in the United States
Between 1990 and 2003, the prevalence of mental disorders in the United States remained relatively stable at around 30%, but the rate of treatment increased significantly 6. The proportion of individuals receiving treatment for mental disorders rose from 20.3% in the early 1990s to 32.9% in the early 2000s 6. Despite this increase, many individuals with mental disorders still did not receive treatment, indicating a persistent treatment gap 6. Efforts to improve access to effective mental health treatments are essential to address this ongoing issue.
Mental Health in India
The National Mental Health Survey of India (2016) estimated that 13.67% of the population had experienced any mental morbidity in their lifetime, with a current prevalence of 10.56% 7. The most common mental health issues included problems due to psychoactive substance use (22.44%), mood disorders (5.61%), and neurotic and stress-related disorders (3.70%) 7. The treatment gap for mental morbidity was a staggering 84.5%, highlighting the urgent need for better mental health services and policies in India 7.
Conclusion
Mental health issues are prevalent across different populations and regions, with significant impacts on individuals and society. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated mental health problems, particularly among healthcare workers. Children and adolescents in the United States face high rates of mental health disorders, and global data gaps hinder effective public health planning. In Australia and India, mental health issues contribute significantly to the disease burden, with substantial treatment gaps. Addressing these challenges requires comprehensive data collection, improved access to effective treatments, and innovative approaches to mental health care.
Sources and full results
Most relevant research papers on this topic
Mental Health in COVID-19 Pandemic: A Meta-Review of Prevalence Meta-Analyses
COVID-19 has significantly increased the prevalence of mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and PTSD in both the general public and healthcare workers.
Meta-Analysis
Highly CitedMental Health Surveillance Among Children — United States, 2013–2019
Mental disorders are a substantial public health concern among children aged 3-17 years, with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and anxiety being the most prevalent.
Highly CitedGlobal Epidemiology of Mental Disorders: What Are We Missing?
Mental disorders have a high prevalence and disability, but current global data coverage is inadequate for planning and policy-making, making them invisible and low priority for most of the world's population.
Systematic Review
Rigorous JournalHighly CitedStatistical procedures for analyzing mental health services data
This paper introduces statistical methods for analyzing complexly distributed mental health service use data, including Poisson, negative binomial, zero-inflated, and zero-truncated regression models, and provides a flowchart to help select the most appropriate method.
Highly CitedPrevalence and treatment of mental disorders, 1990 to 2003.
Despite an increase in treatment rates, most patients with mental disorders did not receive treatment from 1990 to 2003.
Observational StudyHighly CitedThe National Mental Health Survey of India (2016): Prevalence, socio-demographic correlates and treatment gap of mental morbidity
Nearly 150 million individuals in India suffer from mental morbidity, with higher prevalence in males, middle-aged individuals, urban-metros, less educated, and lower-income households.
Observational StudyRigorous JournalHighly Cited