Mental disorders are the leading cause of disease burden among adolescents in the Asia Pacific region, according to a 2026 study.

Is it true that mental disorders are the leading cause of disease burden among adolescents in the Asia Pacific region, according to a 2026 study?

Partly. Some 2025-2026 global studies report mental disorders as a leading cause of disability-adjusted life years among adolescents worldwide, and Pacific-region work projects rising burden. However, other sources indicate that in Asia Pacific subregions cardiovascular disease and neoplasms remain the leading causes, and that many Asian countries have lower-than-expected mental disorder DALY rates, so the specific Asia Pacific leadership claim is only partly supported and partly contradicted.

Verdict: CONTESTED PARTIAL · 3 sources for, 3 against · Last checked 3 Oct 2026

The private library was unavailable for some searches in this check. Missing library results are not evidence against the claim.

J, T., N, Y., X, H., S, T., Y, W., LE, M., Y, L., Y, W., Y, W., Y, L., BD, S., H, L., W, Y., Q, W., X, G., C, Z., H, X., & W, W. (2025). Global burden of mental disorders among adolescents and young adults, 1990-2021: a systematic analysis of the Global Burden of Diseases Study 2021.. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1136/gpsych-2025-102278

Global burden of mental disorders among adolescents and young adults, 1990–2021: a systematic analysis of the Global Burden of Diseases Study 2021 - PMC Lock. (n.d.). pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. https://doi.org/10.1136/gpsych-2025-102278

Charlson, F. J., Diminic, S., & Whiteford, H. A. (2015). The Rising Tide of Mental Disorders in the Pacific Region: Forecasts of Disease Burden and Service Requirements from 2010 to 2050. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1002/app5.93

X, Z., L, L., L, Z., P, Z., W, J., & MC, N. (2026). The global burden of mental and substance use disorders among adolescents and young adults.. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41380-026-03503-9

Office, U. E. A. a. t. P. R., Malaysia, U., & Malaysia, I. f. C. R. (. N. I. o. H. (. M. o. H. (2022). Strengthening Mental Health And Psychosocial Support Systems And Services For Children And Adolescents In East Asia And Pacific Region: Malaysia Country Report 2022. zenodo.org. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7024647

<div> <span>Global Burden and Risk Factors of All-cause Mortality in Asia, North Africa and Middle East, 1990-2023: A Systematic Analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023</span> </div>. (2026). doi.org. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.6724403