The Global Burden of Disease report -- published in The Lancet on Sunday and presented at the World Health Summit in Berlin -- analyzed data from more than 200 countries and territories to estimate the leading causes of illness, mortality and early death worldwide from 1990 to 2023.
Between 2000 and 2023, there was a notable rise in deaths among younger adults in Eastern Europe caused by HIV, self-harm and personal violence. In Central Europe, deaths from mental disorders and eating disorders have also risen sharply among teens over the decade.
This reflects a global trend -- a rise in mental health disorders, with worldwide rates of anxiety increasing by 63 percent and of depression by 26 percent.
"The rise of depression and anxiety is very concerning," coauthor Chris Murray, director of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington, told POLITICO. "We hear a lot of debate as to what the root causes are ... but we certainly need to pay attention to try to figure out what's driving the rise. "
The report shows some overall positive trends: Global mortality rates dropped by 67 percent between 1950 and 2023 and global life expectancy in 2023 was more than 20 years higher compared to 1950.
But despite the improvements, the study also highlights "an emerging crisis" of higher death rates in teenagers and young adults in certain regions.
In North America and Latin America, for example, deaths among young people increased significantly from 2011 to 2023, mainly due to suicide, drug overdose and high consumption of alcohol. In sub-Saharan Africa, they increased due to infectious diseases and unintentional injuries.