Only 20% of the population seeks medical help
According to information from the Center for Electronic Health, as of January 1, 2026, over 50 thousand cases of mental disorders have been registered in Kyrgyzstan.
At a briefing at the Sputnik Kyrgyzstan press center, the head of the primary health care department of the Ministry of Health, Nurgul Ibraeva, reported that the number of patients with psychiatric diseases is increasing by 10-11% annually.
Every year, a diagnosis of mental disorder is made for approximately 3-4.5 thousand people, with an increase observed since 2021.
A psychiatrist from Family Medicine Center No. 6, Boris Li, explained that a mental disorder is characterized by the manifestation of symptoms that meet diagnostic criteria and require medical intervention.
"The most common are depressive and anxiety disorders, which manifest as a decrease in mood, loss of interest in usual life, feelings of helplessness, and reduced social activity. These symptoms form a psychopathological syndrome, and their combination leads to a specific mental illness," he noted.
Depressive and anxiety disorders are most often found in youth and middle-aged individuals, while cognitive impairments and dementia prevail among elderly patients.
"According to the World Health Organization, about 11% of the population of Kyrgyzstan experiences mental disorders. Among those seeking medical help, there are slightly more men than women. Nevertheless, only one in five people with such disorders seeks help," Li added.
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