Jorge Aguado

In 2023, 1.17 billion people suffered from a mental health disorder, compared to 599 million people in 1990, according to a global study published in The Lancet. Women experienced higher rates of anxiety and depression, while neurodevelopmental and behavioral disorders—such as ADHD or autism—are more common in men. The highest incidence was observed among those aged 15 to 19, which, according to the authors, underscores the need for early prevention and targeted support for this age group.

A study published in The BMJ suggests that the incidence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is comparable between boys and girls. The study included a sample of more than 2.7 million people born in Sweden between 1985 and 2020 who were followed from birth to a maximum age of 37. More than 78,000 were diagnosed with ASD. It was observed that boys are usually diagnosed between the ages of 10 and 14, five years earlier than girls. By the age of 20, the proportion of diagnoses is almost equal between the sexes. Before the age of 10, the ratio is 3:1 in favour of boys.