By the Numbers:
The economic cost of anxiety and depression
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$709 billion
The return on investment that the world would
see if countries were to substantially scale up
treatment for anxiety disorders and depression
over the next 15 years, according to a World
Health Organization analysis1 of 36 low-,
middle- and high-income countries. Economic
productivity gains would yield $399 billion
of those gains, and an increase in population
healthy life-years would yield the other $310
billion.
$147 billion
The amount of money that the world would need
to invest in mental health treatment, including
counseling and medication, to see those gains.
7. 3 percent
The percentage of people worldwide with an
anxiety disorder, according to WHO estimates.
The rate of depression is 3. 2 percent for men
and 5. 5 percent for women.
3 percent
The average share of their overall health budget
that countries spend on mental health services.
The percentages range from about 1 percent
in low-income countries to about 5 percent in
high-income countries. 2
$2 per person per year
The amount of money that low- and middle-income countries spend on mental health
services right now, according to WHO estimates. 2
1 www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366( 16)30024-4/abstract
2 http://library.health.go.ug/publications/service-delivery-public-health/mental-health/mental-health-atlas-2014
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