What Does Mental Health Have to Do With The Economy?

More than you might think! A study published last month in the American Journal of Psychiatry by Dr. Ronald Kessler and colleagues shows that serious mental illness has a massive impact on the economy. The study estimated that serious mental illness results in 193.2 billion dollars in lost earnings every year in the U.S. alone. The authors suggest that this figure be taken into account when funding decisions are made-- funding for mental health treatment may actually save money in the long term.

_Source:

Kessler RC, Heeringa S, Lakoma MD, Petukhova M, Rupp AE, Schoenbaum M, Wang PS, & Zaslavsky AM. "Individual and Societal Effects of Mental Disorders on Earnings in the United States: Results From the National Comorbidity Survey Replication." American Journal of Psychiatry, 165:703-711, May 2008.