Summary: A recent WHO report estimates that over 300 million people worldwide live with depression, marking an 18% rise in diagnosed cases between 2005 and 2015.
Source: WHO
Depression is now the leading cause of ill health and disability globally. New figures from the World Health Organization (WHO) show that more than 300 million people were living with depression as of the latest estimates, representing an increase of over 18% between 2005 and 2015. Barriers such as fear of stigma and insufficient mental health support prevent many affected people from obtaining the care they need to lead healthy, productive lives.
The updated estimates were released ahead of World Health Day on 7 April as part of WHO’s year-long campaign, “Depression: let’s talk.” The campaign’s core aim is to encourage more people with depression — everywhere — to seek and receive effective care.
WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan described the new figures as “a wake-up call for countries to rethink their approaches to mental health and to treat it with the urgency it deserves.” Addressing stigma and discrimination around mental illness is a critical early step. Dr. Shekhar Saxena, Director of WHO’s Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, notes that talking with a trusted person is often the first step toward treatment and recovery for someone living with depression.
Urgent need for increased investment
Significant additional investment in mental health services is needed worldwide. In many countries, mental health services are non-existent or extremely limited. Even in high-income nations, nearly half of people with depression do not receive treatment. On average, governments allocate only about 3% of their health budgets to mental health, with the share ranging from less than 1% in low-income countries to around 5% in high-income countries.
Investing in mental health also makes clear economic sense. WHO estimates that every US$1 invested in scaling up treatment for depression and anxiety yields about US$4 in improved health and increased ability to work. Typical, evidence-based treatments include talking therapies, antidepressant medication, or a combination of both. These interventions can be delivered by non-specialist health workers after a brief training period, guided by WHO’s mhGAP Intervention Guide. More than 90 countries across all income levels have adopted or expanded programs to provide mental health treatment using this guide.
Failing to act has substantial economic consequences. A WHO-led analysis of treatment costs and outcomes across 36 low-, middle- and high-income countries projected losses up to 2030. Low recognition and limited access to care for depression and anxiety result in a global economic loss of roughly one trillion US dollars each year. These losses are felt by households, employers, and governments: households lose income when people cannot work, employers suffer from reduced productivity and absenteeism, and governments face higher health and welfare costs.
Associated health risks
WHO highlights strong links between depression and other noncommunicable diseases. Depression increases the risk of substance use disorders and chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. Conversely, people living with those chronic diseases are more likely to experience depression. This two-way relationship complicates treatment and underscores the need for integrated care that addresses both mental and physical health.
Depression is also a major risk factor for suicide, which claims hundreds of thousands of lives every year. Dr. Saxena emphasizes that improving understanding of depression and how to treat it is only the start. What must follow is a sustained scale-up of mental health services that are accessible to everyone, including people living in remote and underserved areas.
Clinically, depression is characterized by persistent sadness and a marked loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities for at least two weeks. People with depression commonly experience fatigue or loss of energy, appetite changes, sleep disturbances, anxiety, poor concentration, indecisiveness, restlessness, feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt, and recurrent thoughts of self-harm or suicide.
Source: Alison Brunier — WHO
Image Source: Image adapted from WHO materials; used for illustrative purposes.
WHO (2017). “Depression Tops List As Leading Cause of Disability and Ill Health Worldwide.” NeuroscienceNews. Published April 1, 2017. (Adapted summary)