Only 20% of citizens seek help
As of January 1, 2026, more than 50 thousand people suffering from mental disorders are registered in Kyrgyzstan, according to data from the Center for Electronic Health.
The number of patients with psychiatric diseases increases by 10–11 percent each year, as reported by Nurgul Ibraeva, head of the primary healthcare department at the press center of Sputnik Kyrgyzstan.
It is estimated that approximately 3,000 to 4,500 new patients are diagnosed annually, and this growth has been noticeable since 2021.
Boris Li, a psychiatrist at Family Medicine No. 6, explained that a mental disorder is a condition in which a person exhibits symptoms that require clinical intervention.
“The most common among patients are depressive and anxiety disorders, which are characterized by a decrease in mood, loss of interest in daily activities, feelings of helplessness, and reduced social activity. The combination of these signs forms a psychopathological syndrome, and their totality constitutes a specific mental illness,” he noted.
Depressive and anxiety disorders are most often found in youth and middle-aged individuals, while cognitive disorders and dementia are observed in the elderly.
According to the World Health Organization, about 11% of the population of Kyrgyzstan suffers from mental disorders. Among those receiving medical assistance, there are slightly more men than women; however, overall, only one-fifth of people with such disorders seek treatment,” Li added.
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