- Since the start of the pandemic, cases of mental illnesses have increased worldwide.
- There are currently 163 therapies in development for the treatment of mental illness.
- Depression tops the list because there are 54 formulas in various phases of clinical trials, followed by schizophrenia and anxiety with 35 each.
Mental illnesses are so common that one in eight people in the world suffer from one. Sometimes the problem is ignored or not addressed because the patient himself is afraid to ask for help. In the same way, the main failure today is only paying attention to the physical part and ignoring the emotional aspect.
From the above, The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that there are 970 million people with a mental disorder. The most common are anxiety and depressive disorders. Both registered an increase from 2020 due to the pandemic.
In this case, initial estimates show a 26% and 28% increase in anxiety and major depressive disorders in just one year. Although effective prevention and treatment options exist, most people with mental disorders do not have access to effective care. Furthermore, many experience stigma, discrimination and human rights violations.
On the other hand, as with the physical aspect, there are various projects for the development of new drugs that are in development. To guarantee the proper functioning of each one, it is necessary to follow a strict protocol that can last for more than a decade.
To provide hope and more treatment options, biopharmaceutical research companies have advanced our understanding of mental illness to develop innovative medicines.
New drugs in development for mental illness
On this issue, the new report Medicines in Development 2023 Drug List: Mental Illness Prepared by PhRMA mentions that there are 163 therapies under development for the development of new drugs against mental illnesses.
The list is headed by depression because there are 54 in various stages of clinical trials. Then appear the schizophrenia and anxiety with 35 each. While there are 14 for the Bipolar disorder and 8 for him attention deficit disorder (ADHD).
Along with research and development of therapies, countries must work to improve access to these therapies, as well as comprehensive strategies to address the stigma attached to patients with mental illness.
Who is at risk of developing a mental disorder?
There is a diverse set of individual, family, community, and structural factors that together protect or undermine mental health. Although most people are resilient, those exposed to adverse circumstances, such as poverty, violence, disability, and inequality, are most at risk.
Protective and risk factors include individual psychological and biological factors, such as emotional abilities and genetics. Many of these factors are influenced by changes in the structure or activity of the brain.
Social support that patients should receive
Health systems have not yet adequately responded to the needs of people with mental disorders, and do not have the necessary resources to do so. There is considerable divergence around the world between the need for treatment and its provision, which, when provided, is often of poor quality.
For example, only 29% of people with psychosis and only a third of those with depression receive mental health care within the formal health system.
People with mental disorders also require social support, particularly to develop and maintain personal, family and social relationships. They may also need support with educational programs, employment, housing, and participation in other meaningful activities.
Now, although medicines are of great help in dealing with diseases, the main barrier they must face is financial. The development of a new formula requires large amounts of money and research that lasts for decades.
Another aspect to consider is that not all pathologies receive the same attention. According to an analysis of Statista, right now the top priority is Covid-19. Only during 2021, 9,200 million dollars were allocated for the research and development of vaccines against this new disease.
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