There's no single "worst" country, as different metrics show different nations struggling, but Afghanistan and Lebanon often top lists for severe emotional distress (sadness, stress) due to instability, while countries like the Netherlands, Australia, and Portugal have high prevalence of mental disorders, and the UK and South Africa appear low on wellbeing rankings with issues like high suicide rates in some regions. Factors like conflict, poverty, cultural stigma, and lack of services heavily influence these outcomes.
Where are mental disorders most common? In 2023, the countries with the highest age-standardized prevalence rates of mental disorders in the world were The Netherlands, Portugal, and Australia. We also see high prevalence in the United Kingdom, Iran, Malta, Brazil, and Ireland.
Indeed, the four lowest lifetime prevalence estimates (<10%) were in low-middle income countries (Pondicherry, Mexico, Shenzen, South Africa). Conversely, with the exception of São Paulo, the highest rates (>18%) were in 4 high income countries (France, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the US).
What is the Hardest Mental Illness to Live With?
The interview-styled study of thousands of people the world over found the highest prevalence of personality disorders in Colombia and the United States and the lowest in Nigeria and Western Europe, with some other countries falling in-between.
Study 2 (N = 967) and Study 3 (N = 315) found similar results such that Black individuals reported higher levels of narcissism than White individuals on the narcissism measures that captured less pathological facets of this construct.
Racial/ethnic differences in lifetime prevalence of mental disorders. Lifetime prevalence of any DSM-IV/CIDI disorder was highest among White respondents (45.6%), somewhat lower among Latino (38.8%) and Black respondents (37.0%) and substantially lower among Asians (23.5%; see Table 2).
Out of all the mental disorders including depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder, which do you think is the deadliest? A review of nearly fifty years of research confirms that Anorexia Nervosa has the highest mortality rate of all mental illnesses (Arcelus, Mitchel, Wales, & Nelson, 2011).
The 5 C's of Mental Health provide a framework for well-being, often cited as Competence, Confidence, Connection, Character, and Caring, focusing on feeling capable, believing in oneself, nurturing relationships, living by values, and showing empathy. While some variations exist, like adding Compassion, Coping, or Community, the core idea is building resilience through personal growth and strong relationships, helping individuals manage challenges and thrive.
The prevalence of depression was lower among non-Hispanic Asian adults than among any other race and Hispanic-origin group. Overall, non-Hispanic Asian adults had the lowest prevalence of depression (3.1%) compared with Hispanic (8.2%), non-Hispanic white (7.9%), and non-Hispanic black (9.2%) adults.
The 10 Most Depressed Countries
Regular exercise may improve depression or anxiety symptoms enough to make a big difference. That big difference can help kick-start further improvements. The mental health benefits of exercise and physical activity may last only if you stick with them over the long term.
The Top Five Most Common Mental Illnesses
According to psychology, there are specific personality types that are notoriously difficult to live with. These can include the passive-aggressive communicator, the relentless critic, or the energy-draining pessimist. However, recognizing these traits is the first step toward managing the stress they cause.
These severe and persistent mental illnesses include schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, other severe forms of depression, panic disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Symptoms
What Is the Most Serious Type of Mental Disorder? While all mental disorders can be serious, those that impair reality perception—such as schizophrenia, psychotic disorders, and severe delusions—pose the greatest risk. Early intervention and treatment can significantly improve prognosis and quality of life.
50% of mental health problems are established by age 14 and 75% by age 24.
Experts have long considered borderline personality disorder a particularly painful mental health disorder. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) describes it as: Debilitating. Potentially lethal.
In particular, African Americans are disproportionately diagnosed with Schizophrenia with estimates ranging from three to five times more likely in receiving such a diagnosis.
The percentage who had received any mental health treatment was highest among non-Hispanic white adults. Non-Hispanic white adults were most likely to have received any mental health treatment in the past 12 months (23.0%) compared with other race and Hispanic-origin groups (Figure 3).
Women between the ages of 16 and 24 are almost three times as likely (26%) to experience a common mental health issue as males of the same age (9%). Women are twice as likely to be diagnosed with anxiety as men. 25.7% of women and 9.7% of men aged 16 to 24 report having self-harmed at some point in their life.