Mental health has become a leading topic of discussions, and people are voicing their opinions and experiences about it. People organise events, campaigns, and activities to spread awareness about mental health and eliminate misconceptions about it. Unfortunately, despite a lot of efforts and debates, people still refrain from talking about it. Some even see it in a negative way, causing people with mental illnesses to suffer in silence.
Millions of people experience mental health issues every year, and it’s crucial to measure mental illness to know its social, financial, and physical impact. This also helps us show people that they are not alone in their struggles.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, so we are doing our bit to educate people about mental health by providing relevant information and facts. We have collected different statistics on mental health to help you understand the prevalence of mental health disorders. These numbers are a powerful tool to raise awareness, advocate better self-care, and bust the stigma around mental health.
We have covered facts and figures about mental health among men, women, children, and students. You will also learn about common mental disorders and the stigma around mental illnesses.
So, let’s get into the details and closely examine mental health statistics in India and globally.

Importance of Mental Health
Irrespective of your age or gender, mental health is quite important to ensure a happier and more fulfilled life. Poor mental health can cause negative behaviour and affect our relationships. Here are a few points highlighting the importance and benefits of mental health:
- Globally, mental health is associated with various social issues, including human rights, economic development, and social inclusion.
- A person’s mental health also affects his/her social, emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It directly affects how we feel, think, act, and build relationships.
- Mental health is associated with physical health, and depression can often lead to vascular and heart diseases.
- Looking after your mental health can enhance your daily functioning and help you combat or control other health problems.
- Focus on mental health, as it can enhance your productivity, self-image, and relationships.
- Poor mental health involves the risk of diminished immune functioning.
- Mental disorders play a crucial role in the quality of sleep, eating habits, alcohol or tobacco use, and other behaviour.
- It also contributes to poverty, broken relationships, substance abuse, unemployment, and crime.

Global Mental Health Statistics 2025
Mental health is now a global issue, with more countries trying to spread awareness about it and educate their citizens. Despite a lot of efforts, there are some shocking results and facts.
Here are the latest mental health statistics worldwide that you must know:
- 1 in 4 people will face mental health conditions at some point in their lives.
- Around 970 million people worldwide are affected by drug abuse or mental illness.
- The prevalence of various mental health conditions and disorders has increased from 416 million in 1990 to 615 million in 2013, which is 50%.
- Mental disorders contribute to 14.3% or 8 million deaths each year across the world.
- The mortality rate among people with mental disorders is higher than the rest of the population, with a recorded median life expectancy loss of 10.1 years.
- Another shocking mental health stats is- anxiety is the most common mental health issue today, affecting 284 million worldwide, followed by depression, which affects 264 million people, and alcohol use disorder, which affects 107 million people.
- Bipolar disorder, Schizophrenia, and eating disorders are also common among people affecting 46 million, 20 million, and 16 million people respectively worldwide.
- According to a study, mental health prevalence during the COVID-19 pandemic was higher than in pre-COVID times. Estimated global cases are 26.9% for anxiety, 28.0% for depression, 36.5% for stress, 21.4% for post-traumatic stress, 50.0% for psychological distress, and 27.6% for sleep issues.

Men’s Mental Health Statistics 2025
We often talk about women’s mental health, but men also struggle with mental conditions and issues. Here are some must-know men’s mental health facts for you:
- One in every ten men faces some sort of depression, but not even half of them seek professional help. More than 6 million men worldwide struggle with depression every year, but male depression mostly goes unnoticed.
- Six out of every ten men experience mental trauma in life, leading to post-traumatic stress disorder. It can take weeks, months, or years to overcome it and can cause them to experience nightmares, flashbacks, and other symptoms that can hamper their daily lives.
- Men contribute to 10% of patients struggling with bulimia or anorexia, but they rarely seek professional help for their eating disorders.
- In 2020, men died by suicide were 3.88 times more than women. Although suicide cases among men are more prevalent than among women, they still suffer in silence. When a mental condition is left untreated, it may reach unfortunate consequences, so it is encouraged to ask for support whenever needed.
- Men are twice more likely to binge drink than women and have three times more chances of dying from alcohol abuse.
- In current mental health statistics, it is revealed that 49% of men feel more depressed than they accept or share. In a survey by Today involving 1,000 men, it is concluded that men are less likely to admit or share their experiences regarding mental illness and suicidal thoughts.
- More than 3 million men suffer from agoraphobia, panic disorder, and other phobias.
- Moreover, 2.3 people are affected by bipolar disorder, and men and women have equal chances of developing the illness. The probable age of onset for men is 16-25 years.

Women’s Mental Health Statistics 2025
Now that you have looked at some mind-blowing facts about men’s mental health, time to move further and look at some currently registered mental health reports:
- 75% of mental health conditions are established before the age of 24, with women being at higher risk of experiencing mental illness.
- Women have twice the chance of being diagnosed with anxiety as compared to men.
- 72% of people in suicide counselling with NSPCC are girls.
- Suicide stands in third place as the primary reason for girls to contact Childline, while it is the fifth most common reason among young boys.
- 26% of women between the age group of 16-24 have reported common mental health issues in a week. The numbers are increasing every week.
- 1 in 5 women suffer from mental disorders.
- Around 25% of women have self-harmed, which is twice as compared to men. Research shows that the numbers could be higher and are growing.
- Women are at higher risk of being affected by depression than men.
- One in every seven women aged 16-24 have post-traumatic stress disorder.
- 26% of young girls and women suffer from common mental disorders, including anxiety, depression, etc.
Students Mental Health Statistics 2025
Students have a lot to deal with, studies, careers, peer pressure, extracurricular activities, grades, and whatnot. With so much on their plate, they often fall prey to mental health conditions. So, here are some mental health facts in 2025 that will compel you to take this issue more seriously.
- Over 25% of college students are diagnosed or treated by a professional for mental illnesses.
- Among students aged 10-19, depression and anxiety contribute to around 40% of mental disorders, followed by conduct disorders, which make up 20.1%, and then attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, with 19.5%.
- 64% of college students have dropped their studies due to mental health conditions.
- Almost 25% of college students rely on anti-anxiety and mood stabilisers, antidepressants, and other forms of medications to control their anxieties and mood disorders.
- A report by WHO on mental health facts and stats stated that suicide is the fourth main cause of death among young girls and boys between the ages of 15-19.
- Around 34% of college students with some sort of mental issues accepted that their college doesn’t know about their mental health conditions.
- 71% of students shared that they would seek tele-mental health services at school if that’s available.
- 95% of college counsellors have reported that mental health concern has become a primary issue and is growing rapidly on campus.
- 50% of college students have registered poor or below-average mental health.
- The primary reasons for students’ mental health conditions are overworked, stress over grades, biological and genetic causes, financial anxiety, traumatic events, and a sedentary lifestyle.


Childhood Mental Health Statistics 2025
It’s not like only adults experience mental distress; even children face mental health issues. If you have been ignoring your child’s mental wellness, these facts and statistics on mental health will make you aware of it.
- 20% of adolescents may struggle with mental health conditions in a year. Moreover, 50% of mental health issues start at the age of 14 and 75% at the age of 24.
- Since 2017, around 40% of children between the ages of 6-16 and adolescents between ages 17-19 have experienced a significant decline in mental health. One in every ten children experiences a mental disorder.
- COVID-19 has significantly increased anxiety and depression among children. According to a survey conducted in 2022, 41% of teenagers reported depression symptoms, while 27% reported anxiety symptoms.
- 10% of children and adolescents aged 5-16 have reported clinically diagnosable mental issues, but 70% of children who struggled with several conditions didn’t receive the treatment and attention they needed at an early age.
- From 2008-2020, the death rate from suicide among children aged 12 and more increased by 16%.
- Globally, around 15% of children and young people between the ages of 10-19 face mental disorders, which is 13% of the global disease burden in this age group.
- Boys aged 2-8 are more likely than girls in the same age group to have behavioural, mental, and developmental disorders. However, girls between 12-17 years of age have witnessed a sharp increase in depression since 2009.
- Mental health stigma and depression can prevent children from speaking about their mental health issues and seek professional help. Studies have shown that mental health conditions lead to increased school absenteeism and lower educational attainment.
- If left unaddressed, childhood mental health problems can lead to long-term consequences, leading to poor physical health and strained relationships.
Global Suicide Rates and Stats 2025
- Almost 700,000 people die by suicide each given year, which is roughly one death every 40 seconds.
- In 2019, 1 in every 100 deaths, i.e., 1.3%, was by suicide.
- For people aged 15-24, suicide ranks second as the leading cause of death worldwide.
- Over 77% of global suicide cases occur in lower and middle-income countries.
- The global suicide rate among men is higher than among women.
- Around 58% of global suicide deaths occur before the age of 50.
- Disaster, abuse, violence, a sense of isolation, and conflict are primary factors for suicidal behaviour.
- The suicide rate is higher among vulnerable groups subjected to discrimination, such as prisoners, refugees, LGBTQA, migrants, and indigenous people.
- Depression is the main cause of suicide. A person struggling with depression has twenty times more chances of dying by suicide than someone without any mental health issues.
Top Mental Health Disorders
Whether chronic or occasional, mental health disorders can affect a person’s ability to function daily. Although several support groups and organisations are making constant efforts to increase overall mental health, some conditions and disorders are relatively serious and need professional intervention.
- Anxiety is characterised by excessive fear and behavioural disturbances. Its symptoms can lead to distress and impairment in functioning. Different anxiety disorders are generalised anxiety disorder, social anxiety, panic, separation anxiety, etc.
- Post-traumatic stress disorder is the result of a terrifying and threatening event, such as abuse, accident, or natural disaster. It is characterised by nightmares, flashbacks, persistent perception of heightened threats, and avoidance of memories or situations.
- Psychotic disorders may make people unable to differentiate between what’s real and what’s not. It affects a person’s sense of reality and caused due to extreme stress, certain viruses, and drugs. Common psychotic disorders are delusional disorder, schizophrenia, substance-induced psychotic disorder, and brief psychotic disorder.
- Depression leads to feeling hopeless, restless, sad, and irritable. People with depression have a hard time sleeping, making decisions, and being productive.
- Eating disorders are complex mental health conditions about a person’s relationship with food. It can result in unhealthy eating habits and may need intervention from medical experts.
- Bipolar disorder causes dramatic changes in mood, thoughts, and energy. Moreover, it leads to extreme highs and lows, so people may go for years without any symptoms. However, if not treated on time, it can get worse.
These disorders can be treated well by joining authentic mental health courses.

Mental Health Stigma
Stigma is when someone sees people with mental health conditions in a negative way and treats them disgracefully. It is when society shames or disapproves of people with mental illnesses, such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, etc. For example, using terms like attention-seeking, crazy, or insane. Such stigma or discrimination can worsen mental health issues and prevent them from getting professional help or sharing their problems.
Stigma and discrimination can come from friends, family, colleagues, or people around us. Moreover, people facing mental health problems can avoid taking professional help to fit into society.
There are mainly three types of stigma:
1. Public stigma
Negative attitude that society or people around have about mental health illness.
2. Self-stigma
This is internalised shame that people suffering from mental health conditions have about themselves.
3. Institutional Stigma
It arises from governments, institutions, corporations, etc.
Stigma can lead to serious consequences, such as:
- Hopelessness, isolation, and embarrassment
- Bullying and harassment
- Reduced self-esteem
- Discrimination in the workplace
- Less employment and social opportunities
- Self-doubt
- Avoiding treatment or help
- Increased psychiatric symptoms
Final Thoughts
Mental illness is common worldwide, with millions of people experiencing sone sort of mental health condition. If you know someone struggling with a mental health issue or you are going through mental distress, it’s time to seek professional help. Timely and effective treatment can improve your condition and quality of life.
Mental Health Statistics References:
- https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240049338
- https://ourworldindata.org/mental-health
- https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/article-abstract/2110027
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-89700-8
- https://www.mhanational.org/infographic-mental-health-men
- https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/common/common_adults.asp
- https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/mens-health.htm
- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/brb3.497
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15939837/
- https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20180328140249/http://digital.nhs.uk/catalogue/PUB21748
- https://www.bma.org.uk/media/2115/bma-womens-mental-health-report-aug-2018.pdf
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK587174/
- https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/statistics/children-young-people-statistics
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK587174/
- https://save.org/about-suicide/suicide-statistics/
- https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/suicide
- https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240026643
- https://apps.who.int/gho/data/node.sdg.3-4-viz-2?lang=en
- https://save.org/about-suicide/suicide-statistics/
- https://www.iasp.info/references/