Mental and addictive disorders affect over 1 billion people globally, contributing 7% of the global disease burden measured in disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and 19% of years lived with disability. Depression accounts for the highest number of DALYs, with higher rates in women, while substance use disorders have higher rates in men. These disorders significantly impact global health, particularly in high- and upper-middle-income countries, with their relative share increasing due to stigma and lack of treatment. Future research should better analyze the role of these disorders in shifts of life expectancy. The epidemiological transition has shifted global health focus from communicable diseases to non-communicable diseases (NCDs), leading to increased life expectancy. However, this shift has caused mental and addictive disorders to be overlooked, despite their significant impact on life expectancy in some regions. The focus on premature mortality has also led to underestimation of the burden of non-fatal health conditions, such as mental disorders. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) now include targets for promoting mental health and well-being, with specific indicators for reducing suicide mortality. However, suicide mortality rates are not the best measure of the full impact of mental health issues. The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study provides the latest estimates of the global burden of mental and addictive disorders. In 2016, over 1 billion people were affected by these disorders, with similar prevalence among men and women. However, there were marked differences in age-adjusted rates for different disorders, with women having higher rates in internalizing disorders and men in externalizing disorders. The GBD study highlights the significant burden of mental and addictive disorders, emphasizing the need for better understanding and addressing these issues in global health strategies.Mental and addictive disorders affect over 1 billion people globally, contributing 7% of the global disease burden measured in disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and 19% of years lived with disability. Depression accounts for the highest number of DALYs, with higher rates in women, while substance use disorders have higher rates in men. These disorders significantly impact global health, particularly in high- and upper-middle-income countries, with their relative share increasing due to stigma and lack of treatment. Future research should better analyze the role of these disorders in shifts of life expectancy. The epidemiological transition has shifted global health focus from communicable diseases to non-communicable diseases (NCDs), leading to increased life expectancy. However, this shift has caused mental and addictive disorders to be overlooked, despite their significant impact on life expectancy in some regions. The focus on premature mortality has also led to underestimation of the burden of non-fatal health conditions, such as mental disorders. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) now include targets for promoting mental health and well-being, with specific indicators for reducing suicide mortality. However, suicide mortality rates are not the best measure of the full impact of mental health issues. The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study provides the latest estimates of the global burden of mental and addictive disorders. In 2016, over 1 billion people were affected by these disorders, with similar prevalence among men and women. However, there were marked differences in age-adjusted rates for different disorders, with women having higher rates in internalizing disorders and men in externalizing disorders. The GBD study highlights the significant burden of mental and addictive disorders, emphasizing the need for better understanding and addressing these issues in global health strategies.