Russia's antidepressant use soars as mental health diagnoses climb sharply

Russia has witnessed a sharp escalation in antidepressant consumption and mental health diagnoses in recent years. Sales of antidepressants surged from 13.8 million packages in 2022 to 23.6 million in 2025. Meanwhile, new cases of depression, anxiety, and stress-related conditions soared by nearly 22% between 2020 and 2024 alone.

The number of first-time mental health diagnoses in Russia climbed by 18% from 2020 to 2024. New cases of depression, anxiety, and stress-related disorders rose from 281,000 to 341,400 in the same period. Non-psychotic conditions, such as anxiety and depression, saw an even sharper increase—up by 21.5%.

Despite this growth, rates of schizophrenia and psychosis remained stable. The number of patients under regular dispensary supervision for mental health conditions actually decreased by 10.5% since 2015. However, outpatient mental health services expanded slightly, with users increasing from 2.14 million to 2.29 million over the same timeframe.

Russia's trend reflects broader regional patterns. Countries with similar demographics, like Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Poland, saw antidepressant use rise by 15-30% since 2020. Factors such as post-COVID mental health awareness, economic pressures, and better healthcare access contributed to the increase. Still, consumption remains lower than in Western Europe.

The surge in antidepressant sales and new diagnoses underscores escalating mental health challenges in Russia. Globally, over 1 billion people grapple with conditions like anxiety and depression, costing economies around $1 trillion annually in lost productivity. Yet treatment gaps persist, with only 9% of depressed individuals and 71% of psychosis patients receiving adequate care.