A recent study made by the World Health Organization (WHO) has evaluated the possibilities of global economic growth and political investment in mental health.
According to the World Health Organization between 1990 and 2013, there was an increase in the number of people suffering from depression and anxiety, that have become the second most common mental disorder in the world.
The WHO states the increase was about 50 percent of the world population going from 416 millions of people suffering from this diseases to 615 million.
According to the study, depression and anxiety are highly prevalent and disabling disorders that can decrease human health and increase their misery. But the diseases can also affect economic numbers.
Researchers proposed a global investment for public health to provide treatment for both depression and anxiety disorders.
The study
According to the study, for every U.S. dollar invested in the treatment of depression and anxiety, $4 were returned in health and ability to work. Researchers used a mental health module from the OneHealth tool to estimate the costs and health outcomes.
The research studied 36 countries economic outcomes from 2016 and 2030, assuming a linear increase in the treatment coverage.
“We know that treatment of depression and anxiety makes good sense for health and well-being; this new study confirms that it makes sound economic sense too,” assured Margaret Chan the general director of WHO.
Chan stated the importance to allow all men, women, and children around the world to access treatment for these diseases.
The costs and outcomes
If the United States were to apply this measures it would cost them around $147 billion over the years established. Yet the outcome will outweigh the expense, according to researchers.
Worker participation will increase to 5 percent, as well as worker productivity that is valued at $399 billion adding another $310 billion to improved health. These doubles the investment made by the government.
The study also found that governments spend a lot less on investment for health care, rounding an average of 3 percent, while poorer countries only spend 1 percent.
The recent research tries to bring a light upon these diseases that are becoming more and more common in the current human being.
Source : The Lancet