Mental health disparities could cost the U.S. a total of $14 trillion by 2040, according to an analysis from the Deloitte Health Equity Institute and the School of Global Health at Nashville, Tenn.-based Meharry Medical College.
In 2024, disparities in mental health outcomes will cost $477.5 billion from expenditures related to chronic health conditions, emergency department overutilization, productivity loss and premature death, researchers estimated. In 2040, these costs are estimated to reach $1.3 trillion annually.
Researchers used data from several sources to quantify the potential costs related to disparities in mental health outcomes by race and ethnicity, socioeconomic status and age. The report was published May 15.
Here are five findings to note:
- The burden of mental health conditions is growing across all demographic groups, but rates are "unsettling high" among certain populations. Though the White population has the highest prevalence of mental health diagnoses, non-White populations bear more of the cost of mental health struggles, the researchers wrote. Lower-income populations with mental health challenges are more likely to have other chronic conditions, and a lack of access to care and stigma mean mental health challenges are likely undercounted in this population.
- The researchers estimated $23.9 billion in spending on five chronic conditions in 2024 is linked to mental health inequities. More than $11 billion in diabetes spending in 2024 is related to poor mental health outcomes, according to the report, and billions more in spending on stroke, hypertension, ischemia and HIV are tied to poor mental health treatment.
- Mental health inequities will lead to $5.3 billion in emergency department overspending in 2024, the researchers estimated. Nearly half of people who frequently visit the ED also experience mental health challenges, regardless of their initial reason for seeking care, the researchers found, suggesting access to mental healthcare could prevent ED visits for many chronic users.
- In 2024, $116 billion in productivity losses will be attributable to mental health inequities. Without mental healthcare, workers take more sick days, show up to work not fully engaged, or become unemployed due to mental health issues.
- Premature deaths related to health inequities will cost $332.2 billion in 2024, the researchers estimated. This includes deaths to due to suicide, deaths associated with substance use disorders andinadequate mental health treatment, and deaths due to mental illness associated with comorbid illness. This cost is expected to reach $911.9 billion in 20240.
Read the full report here.