The Burdens of Mental Disorders: Global Perspectives from the WHO World Mental Health Surveys

Mental disorders have a huge cost, both to individuals and to society. The direct costs of providing appropriate mental healthcare must be considered along with the societal costs of not doing so. This volume uses the findings of the WHO Mental Health surveys, a long-term study with more than 120,000 people from 24 countries, to present a comprehensive portrait of the burden of mental disorders. The most up-to-date measures, field procedures and analysis methodology were used and the results have been rigorously peer-reviewed and assessed for accuracy. Topics covered include the effects of mental disorders on educational attainment, marital stability, violence, absenteeism, earnings, and the disability they cause. The book also discusses the implications for policy and practice. This information will be valuable for anyone involved in establishing policy for mental health, including epidemiologists, clinicians, administrators, service managers and health economists.

• Common mental disorders are presented from the perspective of both the individual with the disorder and society, facilitating an assessment of the burden
• A wide range of relevant outcomes are used to assess the burden, giving a broad picture of the total cost
• The presented results have been rigorously peer reviewed to ensure accuracy and quality