The cost of mental illness

The cost of mental illness With mental illness costing the UK economy £100bn a year, councils need to ensure mental health receives the same priority and funding as physical health

Mental illness is estimated to cost the UK economy as much as £100bn a year in terms of healthcare, lost jobs, unemployment benefits, homelessness support, police time and prisoner places.

Councils have a vital role in tackling the contributory factors to poor mental health, such as poverty, isolation and stigma, and in improving treatment through early intervention and peer support. Since 2012, local authorities have hosted health and wellbeing boards to coordinate NHS and council services. Their potential to help is huge but their effectiveness has been called into question. Continue reading... The Guardian