We may endlessly debate whether social media is a boon or a bane, but one thing is clear—it has given a platform to those struggling with mental health issues. People are openly sharing their challenges,
and the stigma around discussing mental health is slowly breaking down.
What was once dismissed with labels like “weak,” “cowardly,” or “overreacting” is now finding acceptance as society begins to normalise conversations around mental health. Yet, even as these discussions grow, some dismiss them as “too much fuss.” The truth? We haven’t even scratched the surface.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), more than 1 billion people worldwide lived with a mental disorder in 2021. That’s one in seven people—over 14% of the global population—with depression and anxiety leading the list.
The WHO’s Mental Health Today (2025) report, based on data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 and WHO’s Global Health Estimates, also reveals that half of all mental disorders begin before age 18—making early intervention critical.
The crisis runs deeper than individual struggles. It ripples through families, communities, and economies worldwide. Let’s break down what the latest WHO data tells us about the scale of this challenge.
The Global Burden of Mental Disorders
Mental disorders are not just private struggles; they weigh heavily on global health and productivity. WHO’s 2021 estimates show these conditions account for one in 20 disability-adjusted life years (DALYs)—a measure combining years lost to premature death and years lived with disability—adding up to 157 million DALYs worldwide. Women shoulder slightly more of this burden (54.5%) than men (45.5%).
The bigger impact comes from years lived with disability (YLDs). Mental disorders are the second leading cause of YLDs globally, accounting for 17.2%.
Depression alone makes up 6.2%, ranking just behind low back and neck pain, while anxiety contributes 4.7% and ranks fifth. For young adults aged 15–29, depression and anxiety dominate, stalling education and career-building.
Schizophrenia is particularly devastating. In its acute state, it is the most impairing health condition measured, with a weight of 0.78 on a scale where 1 equals the worst health loss.
Those with schizophrenia die nearly nine years earlier than average, often from preventable conditions like heart disease. Bipolar disorder shortens lives by about 13 years.
The toll peaks in early adulthood, though risks like childhood abuse, bullying, and intimate partner violence account for up to 11% of depression-related DALYs—proof that prevention matters.
Mental Health Data Through A Gender Lens
The WHO report confirms it—depression and anxiety affect women more than men. In 2021, 14.8% of females lived with a mental disorder, compared to 13.0% of males. That means 581.5 million women versus 513.9 million men.
Anxiety affected 4.4% of the global population, depression 4.0%, and together they made up more than two-thirds of all cases.
The gender gap widens with age. Anxiety disorders appear early, peaking in adolescence and young adulthood (5.8% in girls aged 10–19, 7.1% in women 20–24). Rates stabilise at 5–6% in midlife before dropping after 60.
Depression appears later—rare before age 10, rising to 4.2% in teens, 5.7% in young adults, and peaking at 6–7% in women aged 50–69. Men consistently show lower rates—24% less depression and 28% less anxiety at the height of the pandemic.
Why Women Suffer More?
According to the report, Women face unique vulnerabilities. Over 10% experience depression during pregnancy or postpartum, with effects often spilling over to infants. Intimate partner or sexual violence triples the risk of chronic anxiety, PTSD, or suicidal ideation.
The Covid-19 pandemic made things worse—major depression rose by 29.8% in women versus 24.0% in men.
Men, on the other hand, are more prone to other disorders: ADHD (twice as common, peaking at 3.8% in boys aged 10–14), autism spectrum disorders, conduct issues, and intellectual development disorders. Schizophrenia also tilts slightly male (52.3% of cases), though early deaths reduce prevalence in older age.
These patterns underline the need for gender-sensitive care—trauma-focused and hormonal care for women, and early behavioural support for boys.
| Disorder | Prevalence in Females (%) | Prevalence in Males (%) | Key Gender Insight |
| Anxiety Disorders | Higher throughout life | Lower; 28% less in 2020 | Peaks in young women (7.1% at 20–24) |
| Depressive Disorders | Higher, 64.9% of cases | Lower, 35.1% of cases | Peaks in midlife women (6–7% at 50–69) |
| ADHD | Lower | Higher (71.8% of cases) | Boys: 3.8% at 10–14 |
| Autism Spectrum Disorders | Lower | Higher (68.2% of cases) | Twice as common in males |
The Economic Fallout
The personal toll of dealing with a mental disorder is staggering, but the financial cost is just as severe. Depression and anxiety alone cost the global economy 1 trillion US dollars in productivity losses annually. Schizophrenia is the costliest per person, but the vast number of depression and anxiety cases makes them the most expensive overall.
In poorer nations, the burden is crushing. Only 42% include mental health in public health schemes, leaving families to shoulder costs that drive many into poverty.
Studies in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia show households affected by depression or psychosis have lower incomes, worse housing, and higher debt.
According to the report, a study in India found that the depressed women were three times more likely to spend over half their monthly income on treatment.
Even in wealthy countries, people with severe mental disorders are 83% more likely to live in low-income households. Indirect costs—from lost wages to caregiver burdens—far exceed direct healthcare expenses.
Why The Mental Health Disorder Crisis Persists?
Despite the scale of the crisis, mental health systems remain weak. On average, countries dedicate just 2% of health budgets to mental health, and in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), that figure is just 1.4% or less. Worse, over half of LMIC spending goes to outdated psychiatric hospitals instead of community care.
The workforce gap is alarming—low-income countries average just one mental health worker per 100,000 people, compared to more than 60 in high-income nations.
Two-thirds of countries have only one psychiatrist for every 200,000 people. The treatment gap is vast: only 9% of people with depression receive proper care, while 71% of those with psychosis receive none at all.
Access to medicines and therapies remains scarce and costly. Few countries integrate psychosocial care into primary healthcare or provide wraparound services like housing and employment aid. Research funding is skewed—less than 5% goes to LMICs, often focusing on basic science over practical solutions.
Governance adds another hurdle. Just half of the countries fully align their policies with human rights standards. The digital divide worsens isolation, with the poorest households often left offline.
Together, these shortcomings—poor funding, scarce professionals, and weak services—fuel a cycle where needs continue to outpace resources.
The WHO’s latest findings serve as a wake-up call, urging the world to turn mental health from a looming crisis into a pillar of well-being—by closing resource gaps, investing in gender-sensitive care, and prioritising early intervention.
