In his last mental illness reportthe OECD has taken stock of the costs generated by the disease and the organization denounces poor care, which has a significant cost for developed countries.
According to figures from this study, 5% of the working population suffers from a severe mental illness and 15% from a more common mental illness. In addition, the OECD estimates that one in two people will suffer from some form of depression during their working life, but that one in two will not be treated properly. 56% of cases of depression would not receive adequate treatment (including 32% for schizophrenia).
Main culprit of these “bad treatments”: the economic crisis, which has prompted developed countries to reduce the budgets allocated to health and research. Thus, the funds earmarked for mental illness now only represent between 5 and 18% of health budgets. However, as OECD experts point out, the crisis has also deteriorated living conditions and increased the number of depressions and mental disorders.
Depression: figures from the OECD
– 15% of the active population suffers from a mental disorder and one out of two people will suffer from a form of depression during their working life.
– Since 1990, the suicide rate has fallen by 20% in OECD countries. The most significant decrease was recorded in Hungary (40%) and Estonia (50%).
– In OECD countries, there are about 16 psychiatrists per 100,000 people. Switzerland has the most, with 45 psychiatrists per 100,000 people, and Turkey has the least, with 5 psychiatrists per 100,000 people.
