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The European Journal of Health Economics
Published in: The European Journal of Health Economics 3/2018

01-04-2018 | Editorial

The triple challenge of mental health

Author: Peter Zweifel

Published in: The European Journal of Health Economics | Issue 3/2018

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Excerpt

According to a report by the World Health Organization (2003, p. 8), mental disorders are responsible for a loss of 13% of disability-free life years (DALYs), compared to 6% due to HIV/AIDS. Moreover, they account for up to 10% of physical diseases (33% in the case of cancer). However, their direct cost is dwarfed by indirect ones, especially at the workplace [1, 2]. In particular, mental illness in youth may stifle educational attainment and impair careers in later life [3]. In view of this burden of disease, it is stunning to see that only 2% of public healthcare expenditure (HCE) is devoted to its treatment ([4], p. 38). One possibility of course is that mental health care is not effective; however, according to [4], p. 28–35, there are several evidence-based treatments that are even cost-effective. …
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Metadata
Title
The triple challenge of mental health
Author
Peter Zweifel
Publication date
01-04-2018
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
The European Journal of Health Economics / Issue 3/2018
Print ISSN: 1618-7598
Electronic ISSN: 1618-7601
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10198-017-0937-z

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