When do people experience mental health conditions for the first time?

Mental health conditions often begin early in life, with around one-third of cases first appearing by age 14 and two-thirds by age 25.

This highlights a critical window for early intervention and support.

The timing varies significantly depending on the specific condition.

For example, social anxiety and eating disorders tend to develop during childhood or adolescence, while generalized anxiety and depression can emerge at any age.

Understanding these patterns helps societies prioritize resources for prevention and early treatment when they are most effective.

The data comes from a large meta-analysis of 192 studies by Marco Solmi and colleagues, published in Molecular Psychiatry in 2022.