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mental problems, evidence suggests
The burden of mental illness in the US has decreased in recent years, a new study indicates.
The report, published in The Lancet Psychiatry, analysed data from the national healthcare surveys between 2015 and 2023. It found that the prevalence of serious psychological distress and major depression dropped from 4.8% to 3.7%, and from 9.4% to 7.9%, respectively.
“These data suggest that the prevalence of mental illnesses in the population has been slowly decreasing for a number of years,” wrote the study’s lead author Thanh Thanh.
Among the reasons cited for the decline are improved access to mental healthcare, growing awareness and acceptance of mental health issues, and economic factors. However, the researchers warn that disparities in mental healthcare for specific groups, such as Black and Hispanic individuals, remain a concern.
The findings have been welcomed by mental health practitioners and campaigners who hope that the pandemic will shine a spotlight on the importance of mental well-being.
Image: Tom Hermans