Mental illness is a leading cause of absenteeism and a driver of long-term sickness, which poses a significant economic cost due to economic inactivity. It accounts for half of all morbidity (the rate of disease in a population) among working-age adults. Mental health issues reduce output in OECD countries by six per cent. Roughly 20 per cent of the working age population deals with mental disorders, and is at a considerable employment disadvantage. Even for those employed, mental illness leads to more frequent absences or presenteeism (working through sickness at lower productivity levels). In the UK, mental health problems cost the economy A#117.9 billion in 2019, approximately five per cent of GDP. Expanding the availability of low-cost but high impact mental health treatments like talking therapy should be a Government priority in this coming Budget. It's an investment that will provide the state with a significant economic return, but more importantly, it will have a positive impact on people's wellbeing.

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22 October 2024

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LSE Politics and Policy

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https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpolicy/investing-in-mental-health-is-both-a-moral-and-an-economic-imperative/

This Blog is published under the centre's Education programme, Growth programme, Labour programme.