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You can help YOU to evolve as well, let us show you how.

Understanding my Mental Health

Statistics according to MOH

The prevalence of all mental disorders increased by 50% worldwide from 416 million to 615 million between 1990 and 2013…

Learn More

Understanding my Mental Health

Statistics according to MOH

The prevalence of all mental disorders increased by 50% worldwide from 416 million to 615 million between 1990 and 2013.

Learn More

Further Understanding The Types of Mental Healths

There is a wide array of mental health disorders that affect individuals across the globe. These conditions can vary greatly in their symptoms, severity, and impact on daily functioning. From anxiety disorders and mood disorders to personality disorders and psychotic disorders, the spectrum of mental health disorders is extensive and diverse.

  • Depressive Disorders
  • Bipolar and Related Disorders
  • Anxiety Disorders (Social Anxiety, Phobias)
  • Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders
  • Feeding and Eating Disorders
  • Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders
  • Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders
  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Personality Disorder

Learn More About the Key Facts of Mental Health according to the World Organization of Health

Click on each tile to learn more.

Adolescents and Mental Health

 | WHO, 17 November 2022

Mental health of Older Adults

 | WHO, 12 December 2017

Mental Health at Work

 | WHO, 28 September 2022

Mental Disorders

 | WHO, 8 June 2022

We get it, you want to start working on being a better and happier YOU; but you don’t know where to start. Well guess what? You can start right here by completing our Self Administered Questionnaire to find out what strategies will best suit you on your journey to EVOLVE.

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Over the past 2 weeks, how many of these can you identify with? Select either YES/NO in correspondence to your answer.

NB. This is not a mental health diagnoses, only trained mental health practitioners can make diagnoses. 

Recognizing Depression

The DSM-5 outlines the following criterion to make a diagnosis of depression. The individual must be experiencing five or more symptoms during the same 2-week period and at least one of the symptoms should be either (1) depressed mood or (2) loss of interest or pleasure.

  • Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day.
  • Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly every day.
  • Significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain, or decrease or increase in appetite nearly every day.
  • A slowing down of thought and a reduction of physical movement (observable by others, not merely subjective feelings of restlessness or being slowed down).
  • Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day.
  • Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt nearly every day.
  • Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness, nearly every day.
  • Recurrent thoughts of death, recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or a specific plan for committing suicide.

To receive a diagnosis of depression, these symptoms must cause the individual clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. The symptoms must also not be a result of substance abuse or another medical condition.

GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder) can manifest both mentally and physically.

The difference between worry and GAD is that people who are not suffering from GAD can rationalize their fears and resolve them. With GAD, there is no “off” switch. If you are suffering from GAD, you are experiencing a constant state of worry – and you can’t avoid it, because basically, just living is causing you anxiety. Here are some signs and symptoms to watch out for:

Perpetual state of constant worry.

Your brain is stuck in a “what-could-go-wrong” loop. In almost every situation, you’re scanning for potential problems.

Inability to relax or enjoy quiet time.

Like when you're on vacation and it takes the first three or four days to unwind and really enjoy yourself.

Feeling tense all the time.

Quick test: Where are your shoulders right now? Pointing towards your ears and a little tight? That’s the tension we’re talking about. It’s like your body is always in a ready stance.

Muscle tightness or body aches.

This is similar to the above and might also include tightening your jaw or grinding your teeth.

Avoidance of stressful situations.

When you’re constantly running through the whole list of things that could go wrong, it’s not a surprise that you decide not to do some things. That danger ahead sign is always flashing.

Difficulty concentrating.

Worrying can make you jump around from one task to the next and that is bad for concentration. There may also be a physiological reasons.

Inability to tolerate uncertainty.

You need to know what is going to happen and how it is going to happen.

Constant feelings of dread or apprehension.

It’s not uncommon for people with anxiety to say things like, “I’ll be able to relax right after (fill in the blank).” The point is, there is always something out there on the horizon that you’re not looking forward to.

Feeling constantly overwhelmed.

For everything you have to do, there’s a whole list of worries that go along with it, and that can be pretty overwhelming.

Intrusive thoughts of things that cause you to worry.

Even when you try to stop thinking about things that are bothering you, they boomerang back.

Not being able to sleep at all or to sleep well.

This is because you are in a constant state of worry.

Feeling jumpy, on edge, or restless.

It’s almost like your whole body feels reactive.

Stomach upset.

This includes nausea and diarrhea and may be chronic.

Fatiguing easily.

You’re tired...All. The. Time.

Heart palpitations

Feeling like your heart is racing.

Trembles or shakes

Since you’re always anticipating something happening, you train your muscles to be ready for action, and this can lead to that shaky feeling.

Sweating and dry mouth.

Again, this is a response to that feeling that something is about to happen.

Having difficulty breathing or a lump in your throat.

It almost feels like you’re choking.

Feeling lightheaded or dizzy.

This might happen if you hyperventilate.

Persistent irritability.

Being on edge can make you cranky, too.

Cold chills/hot flashes and or numbness or tingling sensations.

As you prepare for a fight or flight response, blood rushes through your body and this brings on a lot of different sensations like hot or cold and tingling.

The physical manifestations – chronic neck and back pain, headache, stomach and abdominal pain, irritable bowel syndrome – that can accompany anxiety disorder can be mild or severe,” Dr. Seymour explains. “Often anxiety is not the problem; it’s what manifests from it emotionally and physically.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

A diagnosis of PTSD requires exposure to an upsetting traumatic event. Exposure includes directly experiencing an event, witnessing a traumatic event happening to others, or learning that a traumatic event happened to a close family member or friend. It can also occur as a result of repeated exposure to horrible details of trauma such as police officers exposed to details of child abuse cases.

Symptoms and Diagnosis

Symptoms of PTSD fall into the following four categories. Specific symptoms can vary in severity.

Intrusion

Intrusive thoughts such as repeated, involuntary memories; distressing dreams; or flashbacks of the traumatic event. Flashbacks may be so vivid that people feel they are reliving the traumatic experience or seeing it before their eyes.

Avoidance

Avoiding reminders of the traumatic event may include avoiding people, places, activities, objects and situations that may trigger distressing memories. People may try to avoid remembering or thinking about the traumatic event. They may resist talking about what happened or how they feel about it.

Alterations in cognition and mood

Inability to remember important aspects of the traumatic event, negative thoughts and feelings leading to ongoing and distorted beliefs about oneself or others (e.g., “I am bad,” “No one can be trusted”); distorted thoughts about the cause or consequences of the event leading to wrongly blaming self or other; ongoing fear, horror, anger, guilt or shame; much less interest in activities previously enjoyed; feeling detached or estranged from others; or being unable to experience positive emotions (a void of happiness or satisfaction).

Alterations in arousal and reactivity

Arousal and reactive symptoms may include being irritable and having angry outbursts; behaving recklessly or in a self-destructive way; being overly watchful of one's surroundings in a suspecting way; being easily startled; or having problems concentrating or sleeping.

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Managing my Mental Health

Managing mental health involves prioritizing self-care, seeking support when needed, and cultivating healthy coping mechanisms to navigate life’s ups and downs.

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Depression and Anxiety Disorder Statistics.

Adolescents and Mental Health (WHO, 17 November 2022)

Key facts

  • Globally, one in seven 10-19-year-olds experiences a mental disorder, accounting for 13% of the global burden of disease in this age group.
  • Depression, anxiety and behavioural disorders are among the leading causes of illness and disability among adolescents.
  • Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among 15-29 year-olds.
  • The consequences of failing to address adolescent mental health conditions extend to adulthood, impairing both physical and mental health and limiting opportunities to lead fulfilling lives as adults.

One in six people are aged 10-19 years. Adolescence is a unique and formative time. Physical, emotional and social changes, including exposure to poverty, abuse, or violence, can make adolescents vulnerable to mental health problems. Protecting adolescents from adversity, promoting socio-emotional learning and psychological well-being, and ensuring access to mental health care are critical for their health and well-being during adolescence and adulthood.

Globally, it is estimated that 1 in 7 (14%) 10-19 year-olds experience mental health conditions (1), yet these remain largely unrecognized and untreated.

Adolescents with mental health conditions are particularly vulnerable to social exclusion, discrimination, stigma (affecting readiness to seek help), educational difficulties, risk-taking behaviours, physical ill-health and human rights violations.

Mental health of older adults (WHO, 12 December 2017)

Globally, the population is ageing rapidly. Between 2015 and 2050, the proportion of the world’s population over 60 years will nearly double, from 12% to 22%.

Mental health and well-being are as important in older age as at any other time of life.

Mental and neurological disorders among older adults account for 6.6% of the total disability (DALYs) for this age group.

Approximately 15% of adults aged 60 and over suffer from a mental disorder.

Older adults, those aged 60 or above, make important contributions to society as family members, volunteers and as active participants in the workforce. While most have good mental health, many older adults are at risk of developing mental disorders, neurological disorders or substance use problems as well as other health conditions such as diabetes, hearing loss, and osteoarthritis. Furthermore, as people age, they are more likely to experience several conditions at the same time.

The world’s population is ageing rapidly. Between 2015 and 2050, the proportion of the world’s older adults is estimated to almost double from about 12% to 22%. In absolute terms, this is an expected increase from 900 million to 2 billion people over the age of 60. Older people face special physical and mental health challenges which need to be recognized.

Over 20% of adults aged 60 and over suffer from a mental or neurological disorder (excluding headache disorders) and 6.6% of all disability (disability adjusted life years-DALYs) among people over 60 years is attributed to mental and neurological disorders. These disorders in older people account for 17.4% of Years Lived with Disability (YLDs). The most common mental and neurological disorders in this age group are dementia and depression, which affect approximately 5% and 7% of the world’s older population, respectively. Anxiety disorders affect 3.8% of the older population, substance use problems affect almost 1% and around a quarter of deaths from self-harm are among people aged 60 or above. Substance abuse problems among older people are often overlooked or misdiagnosed.

Mental health problems are under-identified by health-care professionals and older people themselves, and the stigma surrounding these conditions makes people reluctant to seek help.

Mental health at work (WHO, 28 September 2022)

Key facts

  • Decent work is good for mental health.
  • Poor working environments – including discrimination and inequality, excessive workloads, low job control and job insecurity – pose a risk to mental health.
  • 15% of working-age adults were estimated to have a mental disorder in 2019.
  • Globally, an estimated 12 billion working days are lost every year to depression and anxiety at a cost of US$ 1 trillion per year in lost productivity.
  • There are effective actions to prevent mental health risks at work, protect and promote mental health at work, and support workers with mental health conditions.

Work can protect mental health

Almost 60% of the world population is in work (1). All workers have the right to a safe and healthy environment at work. Decent work supports good mental health by providing:

a livelihood;

a sense of confidence, purpose and achievement;

an opportunity for positive relationships and inclusion in a community; and

a platform for structured routines, among many other benefits.

For people with mental health conditions, decent work can contribute to recovery and inclusion, improve confidence and social functioning.

Safe and healthy working environments are not only a fundamental right but are also more likely to minimize tension and conflicts at work and improve staff retention, work performance and productivity. Conversely, a lack of effective structures and support at work, especially for those living with mental health conditions, can affect a person’s ability to enjoy their work and do their job well; it can undermine people’s attendance at work and even stop people getting a job in the first place.

Risks to mental health at work

At work, risks to mental health, also called psychosocial risks, may be related to job content or work schedule, specific characteristics of the workplace or opportunities for career development among other things.

Risks to mental health at work can include:

  • under-use of skills or being under-skilled for work;
  • excessive workloads or work pace, understaffing;
  • long, unsocial or inflexible hours;
  • lack of control over job design or workload;
  • unsafe or poor physical working conditions;
  • organizational culture that enables negative behaviours;
  • limited support from colleagues or authoritarian supervision;
  • violence, harassment or bullying;
  • discrimination and exclusion;
  • unclear job role;
  • under- or over-promotion;
  • job insecurity, inadequate pay, or poor investment in career development; and conflicting home/work demands.

Mental disorders (WHO, 8 June 2022)

Key facts

  • 1 in every 8 people in the world live with a mental disorder
  • Mental disorders involve significant disturbances in thinking, emotional regulation, or behaviour
  • There are many different types of mental disorders
  • Effective prevention and treatment options exist
  • Most people do not have access to effective care

A mental disorder is characterized by a clinically significant disturbance in an individual’s cognition, emotional regulation, or behaviour.  It is usually associated with distress or impairment in important areas of functioning. There are many different types of mental disorders.  Mental disorders may also be referred to as mental health conditions. The latter is a broader term covering mental disorders, psychosocial disabilities and (other) mental states associated with significant distress, impairment in functioning, or risk of self-harm.  This fact sheet focuses on mental disorders as described by the International Classification of Diseases 11th Revision (ICD-11).

In 2019, 1 in every 8 people, or 970 million people around the world were living with a mental disorder, with anxiety and depressive disorders the most common (1). In 2020, the number of people living with anxiety and depressive disorders rose significantly because of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Initial estimates show a 26% and 28% increase respectively for anxiety and major depressive disorders in just one year (2). While effective prevention and treatment options exist, most people with mental disorders do not have access to effective care. Many people also experience stigma, discrimination and violations of human rights. 

Anxiety Disorders

In 2019, 301 million people were living with an anxiety disorder including 58 million children and adolescents (1).  Anxiety disorders are characterised by excessive fear and worry and related behavioural disturbances. Symptoms are severe enough to result in significant distress or significant impairment in functioning. There are several different kinds of anxiety disorders, such as: generalised anxiety disorder (characterised by excessive worry), panic disorder (characterised by panic attacks), social anxiety disorder (characterised by excessive fear and worry in social situations), separation anxiety disorder (characterised by excessive fear or anxiety about separation from those individuals to whom the person has a deep emotional bond), and others. Effective psychological treatment exists, and depending on the age and severity, medication may also be considered.

Depression

In 2019, 280 million people were living with depression, including 23 million children and adolescents (1). Depression is different from usual mood fluctuations and short-lived emotional responses to challenges in everyday life.  During a depressive episode, the person experiences depressed mood (feeling sad, irritable, empty) or a loss of pleasure or interest in activities, for most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks. Several other symptoms are also present, which may include poor concentration, feelings of excessive guilt or low self-worth, hopelessness about the future, thoughts about dying or suicide, disrupted sleep, changes in appetite or weight, and feeling especially tired or low in energy. People with depression are at an increased risk of suicide. Yet, effective psychological treatment exists, and depending on the age and severity, medication may also be considered. 

Bipolar Disorder

In 2019, 40 million people experienced bipolar disorder (1).  People with bipolar disorder experience alternating depressive episodes with periods of manic symptoms.  During a depressive episode, the person experiences depressed mood (feeling sad, irritable, empty) or a loss of pleasure or interest in activities, for most of the day, nearly every day.  Manic symptoms may include euphoria or irritability, increased activity or energy, and other symptoms such as increased talkativeness, racing thoughts, increased self-esteem, decreased need for sleep, distractibility, and impulsive reckless behaviour.  People with bipolar disorder are at an increased risk of suicide. Yet effective treatment options exist including psychoeducation, reduction of stress and strengthening of social functioning, and medication.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

The prevalence of PTSD and other mental disorders is high in conflict-affected settings (3). PTSD may develop following exposure to an extremely threatening or horrific event or series of events. It is characterised by all of the following: 1) re-experiencing the traumatic event or events in the present (intrusive memories, flashbacks, or nightmares); 2) avoidance of thoughts and memories of the event(s), or avoidance of activities, situations, or people reminiscent of the event(s); and 3) persistent perceptions of heightened current threat. These symptoms persist for at least several weeks and cause significant impairment in functioning. Effective psychological treatment exists. 

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia affects approximately 24 million people or 1 in 300 people worldwide (1). People with schizophrenia have a life expectancy 10-20 years below that of the general population (4).   Schizophrenia is characterised by significant impairments in perception and changes in behaviour.  Symptoms may include persistent delusions, hallucinations, disorganised thinking, highly disorganised behaviour, or extreme agitation.  People with schizophrenia may experience persistent difficulties with their cognitive functioning.   Yet, a range of effective treatment options exist, including medication, psychoeducation, family interventions, and psychosocial rehabilitation.  

Eating Disorders

In 2019, 14 million people experienced eating disorders including almost 3 million children and adolescents (1). Eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, involve abnormal eating and preoccupation with food as well as prominent body weight and shape concerns. The symptoms or behaviours result in significant risk or damage to health, significant distress, or significant impairment of functioning. Anorexia nervosa often has its onset during adolescence or early adulthood and is associated with premature death due to medical complications or suicide.  Individuals with bulimia nervosa are at a significantly increased risk for substance use, suicidality, and health complications. Effective treatment options exist, including family-based treatment and cognitive-based therapy.

Disruptive behaviour and dissocial disorders

40 million people, including children and adolescents, were living with conduct-dissocial disorder in 2019 (1). This disorder, also known as conduct disorder, is one of two disruptive behaviour and dissocial disorders, the other is oppositional defiant disorder.  Disruptive behaviour and dissocial disorders are characterised by persistent behaviour problems such as persistently defiant or disobedient to behaviours that persistently violate the basic rights of others or major age-appropriate societal norms, rules, or laws. Onset of disruptive and dissocial disorders, is commonly, though not always, during childhood. Effective psychological treatments exist, often involving parents, caregivers, and teachers, cognitive problem-solving or social skills training.

Neurodevelopmental disorders

Neurodevelopmental disorders are behavioural and cognitive disorders, that? arise during the developmental period, and involve significant difficulties in the acquisition and execution of specific intellectual, motor, language, or social functions.

Neurodevelopmental disorders include disorders of intellectual development, autism spectrum disorder, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) amongst others. ADHD is characterised by a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that has a direct negative impact on academic, occupational, or social functioning.  Disorders of intellectual development are characterised by significant limitations in intellectual functioning and adaptive behaviour, which refers to difficulties with everyday conceptual, social, and practical skills that are performed in daily life. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) constitutes a diverse group of conditions characterised by some degree of difficulty with social communication and reciprocal social interaction, as well as persistent restricted, repetitive, and inflexible patterns of behaviour, interests, or activities.

Effective treatment options exist including psychosocial interventions, behavioural interventions, occupational and speech therapy. For certain diagnoses and age groups, medication may also be considered.

Who is at risk from developing a mental disorder?

At any one time, a diverse set of individual, family, community, and structural factors may combine to protect or undermine mental health. Although most people are resilient, people who are exposed to adverse circumstances – including poverty, violence, disability, and inequality – are at higher risk. Protective and risk factors include individual psychological and biological factors, such as emotional skills as well as genetics.  Many of the risk and protective factors are influenced through changes in brain structure and/or function.

Health systems and social support

Health systems have not yet adequately responded to the needs of people with mental disorders and are significantly under resourced.  The gap between the need for treatment and its provision is wide all over the world; and is often poor in quality when delivered. For example, only 29% of people with psychosis (5) and only one third of people with depression receive formal mental health care (6). 

People with mental disorders also require social support, including support in developing and maintaining personal, family, and social relationships.  People with mental disorders may also need support for educational programmes, employment, housing, and participation in other meaningful activities.

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iEvolve Mental Health Magazine Issue #1

iEvolve Mental Health Magazine Issue #2

Depression vs Mental Health

iEvolve Depression & Us

iEvolve Theraphy, Is it for Me?

Understanding My Mental Health

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iEvolve Mental Health Magazine Issue #2

Depression vs Mental Health

iEvolve Depression & Us

iEvolve Theraphy, Is it for Me?

Understanding My Mental Health

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