The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development is concerned about the costs of post-covid-19 mental health and calls on countries to invest in the quality of mental health care.
Covid-19 has severely impacted the mental health of many people andOECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) draws a sad report through a report published on Tuesday. The latter underlines the importance of the social and economic costs linked to mental disorders and the sharp increase in mental health problems with the coronavirus crisis. “All over the world, reported levels of anxiety and depression have dramatically increased and even doubled in some countries. This phenomenon is due both to the pandemic itself – the deaths caused by the virus, the strict public health measures – and to the economic crisis it has unleashed ”, explains the OECD.
Mental health weakened by the pandemic
“Countries must provide adequate support to those affected while urgently increasing investment and quality of care to reduce the high social and economic costs associated with mental health problems”, points out the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development in a press release. “Psychiatric services have long been neglected and underfunded, and unmet care needs remain high in OECD countries”, deplore the authors. However, the needs are great, since before the crisis, one in two people already suffered from mental disorders during their lifetime and one in five suffered from it at any time.
One psychologist per 10,000 inhabitants in some countries
According to the report, the economic costs associated with these mental disorders represent more than 4.2% of the GDP of OECD countries. Medical treatments but employment rates and loss of productivity are the main factors. “But these costs can be avoided, at least in part”, confide the authors. They propose: to improve prevention, care, better access to education and employment. According to the OECD document, 67% of those polled who wanted mental health care said they had difficulty obtaining it. “Eleven OECD countries have only one psychologist or less per 10,000 inhabitants”, point the authors.
In another communicated of the OECD published on May 12, 2021, several conclusions were identified, alerting countries to the deterioration of the mental health of the youngest (15-24 years)
- Young people were 30 to 80% more likely to report symptoms of depression or anxiety than adults in Belgium, France and the United States in March 2021.
- Mental health support for young people, especially in schools, universities and workplaces has been severely disrupted.
- The closures of educational institutions at all levels have contributed to the weakening of protective factors.
- The impact of COVID-19 on labor markets disproportionately affects young people, reducing part-time work and workplace learning opportunities for students, and leaving future graduates and new graduates to face challenges. a daunting task in finding and keeping a job, which puts them at high risk of suffering from mental health problems throughout their lives.
