Mental illness could cost 50 million years of lost work

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has released a report that shows the stark reality of the cost of mental illness on businesses. The study estimates that 12 billion working days – equivalent to 50 million years – will be lost between now and 2030.

The WHO has also found that failing to effectively treat mental disorders such as depression and anxiety has cost the global economy around £651 billion a year in lost productivity.

Yet experts believe that for every US$1 invested in treatment, the economy will see a US$4 return. That means the estimated £104 billion cost of counselling and medications over the next 15 years would boost the global marketplace by around £281 billion.

The report is a wake-up call for governments and businesses around the world, with nearly 10% of the global population suffering with a mental disorder, the most common being depression and anxiety (615 million sufferers worldwide).

Read the original article by The Telegraph at bit.ly/22tSnPS