This review examines the global burden of mental and addictive disorders, highlighting their significant impact on global health in the early 21st century. In 2016, these disorders affected over 1 billion people, accounting for 7% of the global burden of disease (DALYs) and 19% of years lived with disability. Depression was the leading cause of DALYs for both sexes, with higher rates in women, while substance use disorders had higher rates in men. The prevalence of these disorders was similar between women and men, but age-adjusted rates varied by disorder type, with women having higher rates in internalizing disorders and men in externalizing disorders. The review also discusses the shift in focus from communicable diseases to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the context of epidemiological transition, and the importance of mental and addictive disorders in recent international health goals, such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The paper emphasizes the need for better analysis of the role of these disorders in life expectancy shifts and suggests using disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) as a more comprehensive measure of their burden.This review examines the global burden of mental and addictive disorders, highlighting their significant impact on global health in the early 21st century. In 2016, these disorders affected over 1 billion people, accounting for 7% of the global burden of disease (DALYs) and 19% of years lived with disability. Depression was the leading cause of DALYs for both sexes, with higher rates in women, while substance use disorders had higher rates in men. The prevalence of these disorders was similar between women and men, but age-adjusted rates varied by disorder type, with women having higher rates in internalizing disorders and men in externalizing disorders. The review also discusses the shift in focus from communicable diseases to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the context of epidemiological transition, and the importance of mental and addictive disorders in recent international health goals, such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The paper emphasizes the need for better analysis of the role of these disorders in life expectancy shifts and suggests using disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) as a more comprehensive measure of their burden.