Report Detail
The economic impact of youth mental illness and the cost effectiveness of early intervention
Mental health is the key health issue faced by young people. Mental health disorders account for over 50% of the total disease burden in Australian youth, led by depression, anxiety and substance use disorders. Each year, almost 24% of Australians aged 12-25 years –over a million young people experience a mental disorder.
This report is the first to estimate the costs of youth mental health issues in Australia. In 2009, the financial cost of mental illness in people aged 12-25 was over $10 billion, with the majority due to lost productivity due to lower employment, absenteeism and premature death. This equates to over $10,000 a year for each young Australian with a mental health disorder.
As 75% of mental health disorders emerge before the age of 25, the report also examines the social and economic benefits of early interventions targeted to young people.
| Client/Publisher: |
Orygen Youth Research |
| Area: |
Economic Consulting |
| Date: |
December
2009 |
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