Economic and social costs of mental illness in England
4 June 2003
4 June 2003
Mental illness costs us more as a society than crime, and this policy paper calculates what the economic and social costs of mental illness are. The main areas of cost – health and social care, human cost and loss to the economy – are all profiled, showing their many components, and the impact on different groups in the population.
The costs of mental health problems in England comprise:
- £12.5 billion for care provided by the NHS, local authorities, privately funded services, family and friends;
- £23.1 billion in lost output in the economy caused by people being unable to work (paid and unpaid);
- £41.8 billion in the human costs of reduced quality of life, and loss of life, amongst those experiencing a mental health problem.
The study demonstrates the benefits of reducing the prevalence and severity of mental illness.
Audience: policy makers
Free to download below.
This paper was updated in 2010
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