A recent report from Deloitte and the Meharry School of Global Health reveals that the U.S. spends $477.5 billion annually on unnecessary expenses related to mental health inequities, with projected costs increasing to $1.3 trillion by 2040 if left unaddressed. The report suggests integrating mental health and primary care, incentivizing mental health screenings, and improving access to care as ways to lower costs and improve overall health outcomes. Various factors contribute to the high costs, including chronic physical health conditions, emergency department utilization, productivity loss in the workforce, and economic costs from premature deaths. Multiple stakeholders, including academia, healthcare providers, policymakers, employers, and the government, must collaborate to address mental health inequities.
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