The category of mental disorders encompasses a wide range of conditions, from schizophrenia to autism to eating disorders. Estimating the number of people with mental disorders is difficult since diagnosis is complicated, diagnostic criteria may be different in different countries, and many people with mental disorders never seek treatment for these issues. Limited information exists on the burden of important mental disorders such as schizophrenia and post-traumatic stress disorder in the countries of the Center’s region.
Depression
Depression is the most common mental disorder and a major cause of disability worldwide. Several countries in the Center’s region were estimated to have rates of depression that were significantly higher than the global average in 2010. These include: Bahrain, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Qatar, Russia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
Eating Disorders
Eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are caused by a complex variety of factors. They are characterized by severe trouble with eating habits and weight regulation, and often accompany other mental disorders. Females are more likely than males to be affected, and adolescents and young women are at highest risk. The number of people, especially women, with eating disorders appears to be increasing in Asia and the Middle East; in a recent survey, eating disordered attitudes were observed in 30–40% of adolescent girls in several major cities in the Middle East.
System Capacity
The number of health professionals (e.g., nurses, social workers, psychiatrists) working in the area of mental health is used to estimate a system’s capacity to confront, prevent and treat mental disorders. Globally, there are approximately nine mental health professionals for every 100,000 people; however, there is large regional variation, with over 40 mental health professionals for every 100,000 people in Europe, but fewer than 10 mental health professionals for every 100,000 in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Not surprisingly, the countries in the Center’s region vary greatly in their mental health system capacity. In 2011, Bahrain, Iran, Pakistan, and Russia all had more than 50 mental health professionals for every 100,000 people. In contrast, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Kenya, and Nepal had less than one mental health professional for every 100,000 people. The United Arab Emirates had 3.4 mental health professionals for every 100,000 people.