Mental Health Economics and Policy

One in four of us can expect to encounter mental health problems during our lifetime, so the impacts of poor mental health are – not surprisingly – enormous. What makes mental health unusual compared to physical ill-health problems are the many impacts outside the health system: stigma and discrimination are still pronounced; employment problems are widespread (in most European countries poor mental health is the leading or second most common cause of work cutback and premature retirement); many individuals find themselves homeless or in the criminal justice system. The PSSRU’s Mental Health Economics and Policy programme is working to inform a better understanding of these social and economic impacts, and to generate knowledge of what solutions work, for whom, in what context or system structure and at what cost. Team members also aim to improve links between research and policy by providing expert advice to government and other bodies including the World Health Organization, Europea