Home » Health » Mental Illness Will Cost The… Mental illness will cost the global economy $16 trillion by 2030 Junaid Dar 6 July 2022 4:37 PM (Representational Photo: AFP) Highlights Anxiety and depression increased worldwide by 26 per cent and 28 per cent in the first year of the pandemic Mental illness will cost the global economy $16 trillion by 2030, says a WHO study One in every 8 persons in the world lives with a mental disorder The Covid-19 pandemic has had a significant negative impact on people’s mental health and well-being worldwide. While many people have adjusted, others have faced mental health issues, which in some cases, are related to the deadly viral infection. Access to mental health services is still restricted by the pandemic, and a rising suicidal behaviour has sparked worries, says a study. Due to the pandemic, there were significantly more people in 2020 who suffered from anxiety and depressive disorders. According to a scientific brief published by the World Health Organization, initial projections indicate a 26 per cent and 28 per cent increase in anxiety and major depressive disorders, respectively, in just one year. Also Read – COVID-19 update: India logs 18,930 fresh cases, 35 deaths in last 24 hours “The information we have now about the impact of Covid-19 on the world’s mental health is just the tip of the iceberg,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “This is a wake-up call to all countries to pay more attention to mental health and do a better job of supporting their populations’ mental health.” According to another report released by Lancet, mental illness will cost the global economy $16 trillion by 2030, underscoring the lack of effective treatments and the severe economic toll it exacts. In India, the disease burden of the disease increased from 3 per cent in 1990 to 6 per cent in 2013, according to a previous study published in the journal Lancet. Also Read – Incidence of obesity increasing in India reports UN; expert says we are at same place where US was 4 decades ago In China, however, mental, neurological, and substance use disorders accounted for 7 per cent of disability-adjusted life years in 1990 and increased to 11 per cent by 2013. According to estimates, roughly 6.5 per cent of India’s population suffers from a mental illness, which is expected to rise to 20 per cent in coming years. In India and China, mental health issues are predicted to slow economic growth by more than $9 trillion between 2016 and 2026.