Mental health illness accounts for 20% economic burden in India

PUNE: Mental health is a huge contributor to economic burden of non-communicable diseases in India. Its prevalence is very high as 1 in every 5 Indians is suffering from some form of mental disorder. Especially in productive age of 20 to 40, mental health illness rate is very high among Indians.

According to Anjan Bose, secretary general, Nathealth, a healthcare federation of India, among non-communicable diseases (NCD), mental health is the largest contributor to economic loss in India. It is estimated that mental health will account for 20% of economic loss from NCDs 2012-2030 which is estimated at $6.2 trillion.

According to Samir Parikh, director, Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences, Fortis Hospital, mental health illness’s indirect costs are higher than direct costs. Which includes costs of care (like medication, clinic visits (fees), hospitalisation, diagnostic services, residential care, community services, rehabilitation and non-medical costs like transportation for treatment and care) are direct costs. These are the value of resources used in the treatment of disease. Indirect costs are value of resources lost as a result of illness.

Indirect costs include costs due to reduced supply of labour (unemployment), reduced educational attainment, expenses for social supports, costs associated with consequences like chronic disability, homelessness, crime, suicide, homicide, caregiver burden, value of family caregiver’s time, medical complications of mental illnesses, early mortality, substance use and other unquantifiable costs like emotional burden on family etc. Other costs include those for health awareness campaigning.