The Global Burden of Disease studies documented the challenges posed by mental illness. Mental illness comprised an estimated 12% of the global burden of disease in 2000, and is predicted to rise to 15% by 2020. Mental disorders comprise 5 of the 10 leading causes of health disability; it is predicted that, by 2030, unipolar depression will be the world's second most disabling health condition.
Reference:
Lund, C., Stein, D. J., Corrigall, J., Bradshaw, D., Schneider, M., & Flisher, A. J. (2008). Mental health is integral to public health: a call to scale up evidence-based services and develop mental health research. SAMJ: South African Medical Journal, 98(6), 444-446.
Lund, C., Stein, D. J., Corrigal, J., & Flisher, A. J. (2008). Mental health is integral to public health: a call to scale up evidence-based services and develop mental health research. South African Medical Journal, http://hdl.handle.net/11427/27575
Lund, Crick, Dan J Stein, Joanne Corrigal, and Alan J Flisher "Mental health is integral to public health: a call to scale up evidence-based services and develop mental health research." South African Medical Journal (2008) http://hdl.handle.net/11427/27575
Lund C, Stein DJ, Corrigal J, Flisher AJ. Mental health is integral to public health: a call to scale up evidence-based services and develop mental health research. South African Medical Journal. 2008; http://hdl.handle.net/11427/27575.
