Epidemiology of deaths due to mental and behavioral disorders in Brazil, from 2014 to 2023
- MOJ Public Health
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Flávia Jordana Abreu Monteiro,1 David Sodré,1 Layra Giovana Carvalho Câmara,1 Ana Caroline Penha Castro Marques,2 Luiza Matos Cantanhede,3 Paula Renata Souza Vincent,4 Dóroty Antonia Lopes Trinta,1 Hiago Sousa Bastos,4 Patrícia Milena Souza Vincent,1 Ana Carolina Ribeiro de Araújo e Araújo,1 José Alberto Pereira Pires,1 Consuelo Penha Castro Marques1
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Abstract
Introduction: Psychiatric disorders are disorders that present a set of symptoms or behaviors associated with distress and interference with an individual’s personal functions. They can affect anyone, across different age groups, genders, and races/ethnicities. These disorders include conditions such as anxiety, depression, alcohol and drug abuse, eating disorders, schizophrenia, and others. Approximately 1 billion people had one of these disorders in 2019, the majority of which were depression and anxiety disorders, which account for 60% of mental illness cases. These illnesses have been increasing in Brazil since 2019, posing a public health challenge. Objective: To study the epidemiological profile of mortality from mental and behavioral disorders in Brazil from 2014 to 2023. Methodology: A descriptive, quantitative, cross-sectional, time-series epidemiological study (2014-2023) was conducted using secondary data from the SUS Information System, TABNET-DATASUS, of the Ministry of Health - Brazil. Results: In the decade analyzed, there were n=151991 deaths from mental and behavioral disorders, with a mean of 15199,1 (±2780,78) and a Coefficient of Variation of 18.30%. Males were the most affected (n=107011), accounting for approximately 70%. White individuals had the highest number of deaths from these disorders, with n=68032 (45%), followed by brown individuals, with n=62352 (41% of the sample). Regarding education, deaths were more frequent in individuals with up to seven years of schooling (64%). Those over 30 years of age were much more affected by deaths from these disorders, totaling 146938 deaths. Final considerations: Mental and behavioral disorders should be a constant public health concern, as they imply a large number of deaths. Therefore, in Brazil, improvements in public health actions are necessary, aiming at prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of such disorders, in order to reduce the number of deaths related to these diseases.
Keywords
mental disorders, public health, epidemiology, deaths
