Infographic: The Cost of Mental Health Inequities
HealthLeaders Media May 21, 2024
Unorganized mental health care is driving up utilization costs.
The inequities of mental health care are costly and prevalent throughout the nation. If left unaddressed, the U.S. will may spend almost half a trillion dollars in unnecessary costs for mental health care through 2024. That number could even escalate to $14 trillion by 2040 if left uncontrolled, according to a report from Deloitte and the Meharry School of Global Health.
According to the report, the U.S. currently spends about $477.5 billion annually in avoidable expenses related to mental health inequities. Year by year, the U.S. is expected to spend roughly $1.26 trillion on these inequities.
The report also shows that emergency department utilization, in relation to mental health inequities, costs...