Half The World’s Population To Have A Mental Health Disorder By 75: Harvard Study 

Half The Population To Have A Mental Health Disorder Harvard Study
Spread the love

According to a comprehensive study jointly led by researchers from Harvard Medical School and the University of Queensland pointed to half the population to have a mental health disorder by 75 years of age across the globe.

The findings reconfirm emerging research that says mental health disorders have become a major global concern, affecting a staggering 50% of the world’s population during their lifetime.

This extensive research that uncovered the inevitability of mental health disorders by 75 years of age involved structured face-to-face surveys of over 150,000 adults from 29 countries representing diverse economic backgrounds and regions. The results stand published in The Lancet Psychiatry.

The researchers highlight the colossal burden of mental health disorders on a global scale, indicating to half the population to have a mental health disorder by 75. In fact, half of the world’s population will have experienced at least one mental health disorder in their lifetime.

These findings also highlight the prevalence and onset timing of mental disorders across various populations. The study, conducted as part of the World Mental Health Survey Initiative based at HMS and collecting data from 2001 to 2022, involved collaboration with 27 other countries.

Principal investigator Ronald Kessler, the McNeil Family Professor of Health Care Policy at HMS, emphasizes the urgency of addressing mental health issues, stating, “Mental disorders are a major health problem worldwide, with an enormous unmet need for treatment.

While several scalable interventions for prevention and treatment have been developed, their allocation is often suboptimal. This study provides crucial insights that can help target efforts to optimize the benefits of these interventions.”

The study sheds light on any potential mental illness by seventy-five years of age, revealing mood disorders, such as major depression and anxiety, as prevalent among the population. Moreover, the research indicates that the risk of certain mental disorders varies between genders.

For women, the most common mental health conditions include depression, specific phobia (a debilitating anxiety disorder), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). On the other hand, among men, the most common disorders included alcohol abuse, depression, and specific phobia.

Additionally, the researchers uncovered that mental health disorders typically manifest during childhood, adolescence, or young adulthood. Understanding the age at which these disorders commonly arise can aid in customizing public health interventions and resource allocation to ensure timely and appropriate support for individuals at risk. The peak age of first onset was found to be 15 years old, with median ages of onset at 19 for men and 20 for women.

John McGrath, conjoint professor at UQ’s Queensland Brain Institute and corresponding author of the study, highlights the need to invest in basic neuroscience to comprehend the development of these disorders, particularly among young people.

McGrath emphasizes the importance of promptly detecting and treating common mental disorders, optimizing mental health services to suit individuals during these critical stages of their lives.


Spread the love
  • Frequent Naps May Raise Your Risk Of Stroke: Study

    Frequent Naps May Raise Your Risk Of Stroke: Study

    Researchers explore the link between frequent napping and cardiovascular diseases.

  • Was Jennette Mccurdy In A Toxic Mother-Daughter Relationship?

    Was Jennette Mccurdy In A Toxic Mother-Daughter Relationship?

    iCarly actor Jennette McCurdy’s memoir spills the beans about a…

  • Why Do Girls Believe Brilliance Is A Male Trait? Study Reveals

    Why Do Girls Believe Brilliance Is A Male Trait? Study Reveals

    Researchers explored the link between parental influence and children’s gendered…

  • High-Potency Cannabis Use May Cause Severe Mental Disorders: Study

    High-Potency Cannabis Use May Cause Severe Mental Disorders: Study

    Researchers explored how high-potency cannabis use is linked to addiction…

  • How Do Parent’s Drinking Habits Raise Risk Of Junk Food Addiction In Kids?

    How Do Parent’s Drinking Habits Raise Risk Of Junk Food Addiction In Kids?

    Researchers explored how parents’ drinking habits influenced their children’s addiction…

  • The Flip Side To “Dreaming Big” And Having Ambitious Career Aspirations

    The Flip Side To “Dreaming Big” And Having Ambitious Career Aspirations

    Researchers explored the link between teenage career aspirations and life…

  • Sleep Disturbances May Raise Risk Of Drug Relapse: Study

    Sleep Disturbances May Raise Risk Of Drug Relapse: Study

    Researchers revealed how REM sleep disturbances are associated with drug…

  • Actor Ezra Miller Seeking Treatment For “Complex Mental Health Issues” Makes A Strong Case For Mental Healthcare
  • How Brain Responses To Stress And Trauma Raise PTSD Risk?

    How Brain Responses To Stress And Trauma Raise PTSD Risk?

    Researchers explored the link between strong brain activity and the…

  • How Sports Help Kids Develop Grit To Tackle Crisis In Adulthood?

    How Sports Help Kids Develop Grit To Tackle Crisis In Adulthood?

    Researchers explored the long-term benefits of sports participation.

  • Daily Blue Light Exposure Lowers Life Span, Study Finds

    Daily Blue Light Exposure Lowers Life Span, Study Finds

    Researchers examined the damaging effects of blue light exposure on…

  • Mental Health Days For Students: A Boon Or A Bane?

    Mental Health Days For Students: A Boon Or A Bane?

    Experts revealed the benefits of student mental health days for…

  • Women Make Competitive Decisions on Behalf Of Others, But Not For Themselves

    Women Make Competitive Decisions on Behalf Of Others, But Not For Themselves

    Researchers provide insights into the gender differences in competitive behavior.

  • Eating Ultra-Processed Foods May Up Dementia Risk: Study

    Eating Ultra-Processed Foods May Up Dementia Risk: Study

    Researchers studied how consuming ultra-processed foods may increase the risk…

  • The Importance Of Elders In Human Longevity: Surprising Study Finds 

    The Importance Of Elders In Human Longevity: Surprising Study Finds 

    Researchers study the link between the human lifespan and the…

  • How The Kanye West-Pete Davidson Saga Puts The Spotlight On Trauma Therapy And Online Bullying?

    How The Kanye West-Pete Davidson Saga Puts The Spotlight On Trauma Therapy And Online Bullying?

    How the Kim Kardashian-Pete Davidson break-up and the online abuse…

  • Research Reveals The Surprising Benefits Of Spending Time Alone

    Research Reveals The Surprising Benefits Of Spending Time Alone

    Researchers reveal the benefits of free-thinking.

  • Vagus Nerves Help Us In Learning New Skills, Study Finds

    Vagus Nerves Help Us In Learning New Skills, Study Finds

    Researchers explored the link between vagus nerve stimulation and new…

  • Vagus Nerve Stimulation Helps You Deal With Tense Situations

    Vagus Nerve Stimulation Helps You Deal With Tense Situations

    Researchers studied the neural mechanisms behind PTSD and anxiety disorders.

  • What Prisoners’ Suicide Should Alert Us To?

    What Prisoners’ Suicide Should Alert Us To?

    Experts emphasize on the need to mandate mental health services…

  • Science Finds What Makes Us Cranky When Hungry

    Science Finds What Makes Us Cranky When Hungry

    Researchers explored the link between hunger, anger, and irritability.

  • Household Chores and Social Visits Linked To Lower Dementia Risk: Study Finds

    Household Chores and Social Visits Linked To Lower Dementia Risk: Study Finds

    Researchers explored how everyday physical and mental activities can lower…

  • Grief Can Increase The Risk Of Death By Heart Failure, Study Finds

    Grief Can Increase The Risk Of Death By Heart Failure, Study Finds

    Researchers explored the link between grief, heart failure, and death.

  • Did You Know Gardening Affects Mental Health?

    Did You Know Gardening Affects Mental Health?

    Researchers provided interesting insights into how gardening affects mental health.

  • How Self-Compassion Lowers Boredom? Surprising Study Finds

    How Self-Compassion Lowers Boredom? Surprising Study Finds

    Can self-compassion help us manage boredom? Recent studies show that…

  • Study Finds The Link Between Hypothyroidism And Dementia

    Study Finds The Link Between Hypothyroidism And Dementia

    Researchers studied the link between hypothyroidism and dementia.

  • Adventurous Play Improves Children’s Mental Health, Study Finds

    Adventurous Play Improves Children’s Mental Health, Study Finds

    Researchers reveal how adventurous play improves mental health in children.