WHO announces that mental health is one of its priorities. It presents a study showing the strong economic profitability of psychiatric treatments.
One euro invested in the fight against mental illness would bring in four, according to a study led by the World Health Organization (WHO) and published in The Lancet Psychiatry. On April 1 and 14, WHO is organizing a series of events, jointly with the World Bank, aimed at promoting the management of these pathologies, and at analyzing the often innovative and successful approaches in many countries.
The strong argument for the WHO: treating mental illness is profitable for the public health of a country, of course, but also for its budget! The UN agency assessed the costs and returns on investment of putting patients on treatment in 36 low-, middle- and high-income states between 2016 and 2030.
Health care expenses for these countries would amount to 147 billion dollars, but it would bring in almost 400 billion in terms of productivity improvement (+ 5%). Savings on general health care spending could also reach $ 310 billion.
3% of health budgets
“Despite the hundreds of millions of people with mental health problems around the world, mental health is still on the sidelines,” said Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank Group. “This is not just a public health issue, it is also about development. We need to act now because the global economy simply cannot afford such a loss of productivity. “
For the moment, recalls the WHO, governments spend on average only 3% of their budget on mental health. A share that drops to 1% in low-income countries.
Reduce mortality by a third
During the two-day meetings, participants will study the success of policies implemented in several countries. Brazil, Ethiopia and South Africa in particular have set up rapid training courses, or have redesigned their health care systems, which, according to the WHO, have enabled them to overcome the difficulties they were facing.
“Mental health must be a priority for humanitarian action and development, globally and in every country,” insists Arthur Kleinman, professor of medical anthropology and psychiatry at Harvard University. “We need to get treatment now to those in need and in the communities where they live. Until this is done, mental illness will continue to erode the potential of populations and economies. “
WHO hopes to reduce premature mortality from noncommunicable mental illnesses by a third by 2030, through prevention and treatment. She also wants to promote general mental health and well-being, which are essential in improving productivity.
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