Approximately how many deaths per year are attributed to mental disorders?

• A. 8 million
• B. 1 million
• C. 100 thousand
• D. 50 thousand

Answer: (A)

Mental health conditions affect mortality in multiple ways, not just through suicide but also by increasing the risk of physical illnesses, reducing access to care, and shortening overall life expectancy. When researchers sum deaths that can be attributed to mental disorders—including both direct deaths from self-harm and indirect deaths linked to comorbidities—the global figure is about eight million people each year. This shows a substantial mortality burden tied to mental health, beyond the roughly one million suicides that are often cited. The smaller numbers underestimate the broader impact of mental disorders on death rates.