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Abstract Objective To investigate the associations between low education and risk of mental disorders, substance use disorders and self‐harm in different age‐groups. Methods All subjects in Stockholm born between 1931 and 1990 were linked to their own or their parent's highest education in 2000 and followed‐up for these disorders in health care registers 2001–2016. Subjects were stratified into four age‐groups: 10–18, 19–27, 28–50, and 51–70 years. Hazard Ratios with 95% Confidence Intervals (CIs) were estimated with Cox proportional hazard models. Results Low education increased the risk of substance use disorders and self‐harm in all age‐groups. Males aged 10–18 with low education had increased risks of ADHD and conduct disorders, and females a decreased risk of anorexia, bulimia and autism. Those aged 19–27 years had increased risks of anxiety and depression, and those aged 28–50 had increased risks of all mental disorders except anorexia and bulimia in males with Hazard Ratios ranging from 1.2 (95% CIs 1.0–1.3) for bipolar disorder to 5.4 (95% CIs 5.1–5.7) for drug use disorder. Females aged 51–70 years had increased risks of schizophrenia and autism. Conclusion Low education is associated with risk of most mental disorders, substance use disorders and self‐harm in all age‐groups, but especially among those aged 28–50 years.

Antecedentes: Los trastornos mentales constituyen una de las principales causas de años vividos con discapacidad, si bien no se dispone de estimaciones recientes sobre su magnitud. Objetivo: Reportar las tendencias de prevalencia de trastornos mentales, los años vividos con discapacidad y los años de vida saludables perdidos por sexo, edad y entidad federativa de México. Material y métodos: Se utilizó la base de datos para México del Global Burden of Disease. Resultados: Se calcularon 18.1 millones de personas con algún trastorno mental en 2021, que representaron un incremento de 15.4 % respecto a 2019. Los trastornos depresivos y de ansiedad aumentaron de manera notable entre 2019 y 2021, lo cual posiblemente esté relacionado con COVID-19, el confinamiento y los duelos vividos durante la pandemia. Conclusiones: Los trastornos mentales se han incrementado considerablemente desde la única encuesta nacional de salud mental que utilizó criterios diagnósticos para evaluar las prevalencias. Es importante invertir en estudios epidemiológicos, prevención y atención de los trastornos mentales, los cuales se encuentran entre las primeras causas de años vividos con discapacidad en el país.

The Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) is witnessing an increase in chronic disorders, including mental illness. With ongoing unrest, this is expected to rise. This is the first study to quantify the burden of mental disorders in the EMR. We used data from the Global Burden of Disease study (GBD) 2013. DALYs (disability-adjusted life years) allow assessment of both premature mortality (years of life lost-YLLs) and nonfatal outcomes (years lived with disability-YLDs). DALYs are computed by adding YLLs and YLDs for each age-sex-country group. In 2013, mental disorders contributed to 5.6% of the total disease burden in the EMR (1894 DALYS/100,000 population): 2519 DALYS/100,000 (2590/100,000 males, 2426/100,000 females) in high-income countries, 1884 DALYS/100,000 (1618/100,000 males, 2157/100,000 females) in middle-income countries, 1607 DALYS/100,000 (1500/100,000 males, 1717/100,000 females) in low-income countries. Females had a greater proportion of burden due to mental disorders than did males of equivalent ages, except for those under 15 years of age. The highest proportion of DALYs occurred in the 25-49 age group, with a peak in the 35-39 years age group (5344 DALYs/100,000). The burden of mental disorders in EMR increased from 1726 DALYs/100,000 in 1990 to 1912 DALYs/100,000 in 2013 (10.8% increase). Within the mental disorders group in EMR, depressive disorders accounted for most DALYs, followed by anxiety disorders. Among EMR countries, Palestine had the largest burden of mental disorders. Nearly all EMR countries had a higher mental disorder burden compared to the global level. Our findings call for EMR ministries of health to increase provision of mental health services and to address the stigma of mental illness. Moreover, our results showing the accelerating burden of mental health are alarming as the region is seeing an increased level of instability. Indeed, mental health problems, if not properly addressed, will lead to an increased burden of diseases in the region.

Global Burden of Disease studies have highlighted mental and substance use disorders as the leading cause of disability globally. Using the studies' findings for policy and planning requires an understanding of how estimates are generated, the required epidemiological data are gathered, disability and premature mortality are defined and counted, and comparative risk assessment for risk-factor analysis is undertaken. The high burden of mental and substance use disorders has increased their priority on the global health agenda, but not enough to prompt concerted action by governments and international agencies. Using Global Burden of Disease estimates in health policy and planning requires combining them with other information such as evidence on the cost-effectiveness of interventions designed to reduce the disorders' burden. Concerted action is required by mental health advocates and policy makers to assemble this evidence, taking into account the health, social, and economic challenges facing each country., (Project HOPE—The People-to-People Health Foundation, Inc.)