Like physical health care, education, and the criminal justice system, the mental health system satisfies certain societal requirements. When these services are offered in a capitalist manner, surplus value is created and amassed.
More and more facets of human behaviour are being medicalized and commercialized due to neoliberal capitalism. This has caused societal issues to be reframed as personal pathologies. This, in turn, draws attention away from the systemic injustice and inequality that lie at the root of these issues.
Mental health issues influence how individuals feel, think, and act. They may upset you emotionally and make it difficult for you to function at home, school, or job. Treatments may raise your chances of recovery and enhance your quality of life.
There are many different kinds of mental health illnesses, from schizophrenia and drug abuse to anxiety. While some can be treated, others might need more intensive care.
A person with a mental illness may need outpatient counselling, inpatient residential treatment, or programs that include partial hospitalization. The government or private insurance entirely funds some of these services.
A significant economic cost is associated with premature death and morbidity linked to mental diseases globally (Table 3). This is greater than cancer, chronic respiratory illness, and diabetes and is equivalent to cardiovascular disorders.
Treatment for mental illness is costly and sometimes a matter of trial and error. For instance, counselling in many parts of the nation may cost $100 per hour, and many individuals need up to five hours per week.
Additionally, co-pays and out-of-network fees are frequently associated with these services. Those without insurance could be responsible for covering both these out-of-pocket expenses and prescription drug expenditures.
According to research, those with untreated mental health illnesses are less likely to go to school or work, which may negatively impact a person's life and career. Missed days of school or work, a lack of involvement, poor job performance, and loss of revenue are just a few examples of these repercussions.
Stress, anxiety, and depression-related mental health issues can potentially reduce employee productivity. These expenses might be substantial, so it's crucial to recoup them as soon as possible.
By offering proactive mental health care in the workplace, employers may aid workers in achieving a feeling of well-being and lessen their negative effects on the economy. According to research, organizations that promote mental health earn $4 for every $1 invested.
Untreated depression significantly increases the cost of absenteeism, lost productivity, and overall health care for an organization. An important factor in minimizing disability, raising productivity and "presenteeism," reducing employee turnover and legal expenses, and increasing workplace safety is an effective treatment.
Additionally, mental distress lowers worker productivity and necessitates more over time, which can run employers up to 1.5 times their standard hourly wage. These costs for the firm and its workers result in a significant loss.
A significant contributor to disability and financial losses is mental diseases. These consequences, which include lost productivity, a decline in educational attainment, poverty, poor social standing, gender inequality, violence, and human rights abuses, are mirrored in individual countries' social and political backdrop.
Particularly substantial indirect cost losses are those brought on by labour shortages, poor savings rates, and missed productivity. Regarding financial implications, depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia are among the most taxing mental illnesses. 6.
Fortunately, some laws offer benefits to people who cannot work due to a mental health condition or illness. These include Medicare and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).
