Mental health issues are on the rise worldwide
Mental and Substance Use Disorders as a Share of Total Disease Burden from 1990 to 2016
Many recent studies have indicated that mental health issues are on the rise worldwide. Anxiety and depression are markedly higher in all age groups, particularly among high school and college students.
Recent studies found that approximately 1 in 5 respondents struggled with a common mental disorder, like depression or anxiety. Countries within North and South East Asia as well as Africa tend to have lower prevalence.
Similarly, drug and alcohol addiction rates are also on the rise. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 31 million people over the world now struggle with some type of drug addiction. This doesn’t even include those who struggle with an alcohol addiction.
Many people who struggle with a mental health disorder also struggle with a substance use disorder (SUD). This is known as a co-occurring disease. It happens because of the fluctuating neurochemical levels within the brain.
As a result, both mental health issues and substance use disorders (SUDs) are taking up a larger share of total disease burden all over the world. On the other hand, the medical community is finding different cures and treatment for other ailments. As a result, mental health disorder and substance use disorder rates go up while the rate of people affected by other diseases and physical conditions go down as indicated in the infographic above.
It’s time for the world to recognize that mental health issues and SUDs are becoming a global epidemic. More awareness and emphasis should be placed on getting appropriate treatment for these disorders. Paracelsus Recovery offers a wide range of treatment services that can help.
To know more, please follow us on Twitter or contact us directly to info@paracelsus-recovery.com
Paracelsus Recovery
Utoquai 43 | 8008 Zurich | Switzerland
T. +41 52 222 88 00
