Synonymous with the cost of £77billion. The Centre’s new report published in October 2010 finds a staggering increase to £105.2Billion. Both reports categorise the cost into 3 areas: Health and Social Care, output losses and human costs. These were: £12.5billion, £23.1 billion and £48.1billion respectively. The highest rise is health and social care up by 70% in 2010 now being £21.3 billion. Output losses are up by £7.2 billion, recorded at £30.3billion, and human cost up by £11.8 billion to £53.6 billion.

The Centre are careful to point out that it is “not appropriate to compare the estimated aggregate cost of mental health problems with wider economic aggregates such as GDP as the former includes a number of cost elements which are not reflected in national income as conventionally defined”. Most obviously they say applies to the cost of human costs of mental ill health.

One major factor applies to output costs that is not measured, is the insidious element of ‘Presenteeism’ (Ill while at work). In previous papers The Centre has defined the cost as 1.5 times greater than sickness absence due to mental ill health. Yet many employees albeit it is important focus too much on absenteeism ignoring Presenteeism.  If were to calculate the cost of Presenteeism would this add £45.4 billion to output losses or £68.55billion in total? Some employers tackle this more expensive cost, and we have examples of good practice, it can be achieved inexpensively.

The cost of social care is not affected by an increase in prevalence of mental ill health; demonstrated by 2 psychiatric morbidity studies in the intervening period of the reports. The Centre point out that the rising cost has “increased in line with growth of expenditure on adult mental health services by the NHS and local authorities; the largest component of the mental health strategies of 2010”. Although the coalition government state that NHS spending is protected, or frozen, there are 3 elements that contradict this. 1. The real cost of the re-organisation of the NHS, see N Christison Consultancy article, set at £1.7 billion is likely to be far exceeded.  2. Will the reduction by savings of £20 billion over 4 years succeed in running the NHS? and 3. The ‘Austerity effect’ on the populations’ mental health.

The spending review will have an effect on the most common risk factors for mental ill health. These are: loss of job, debt and financial problems, loss or repossession of home, and finally break down in relationships usually attribute to the others. In the latter case domestic violence may increase, and overall the risk of suicide is likely to increase. Measures to protect the public and employers need to be centred on prevention or health promotion and an increase in suicide awareness and prevention. In the former expenditure on 24/7 self help orientated training and health well being & stress management orientated health coaching, and in the latter cascadable suicide training for the public at large as it were a ‘first aid’ approaches. For more information click on the The Centre for Mental Health 2010 report

Further information about this article contact Peter Christison info@healthymindsinyourworkplace.com