News

4th June 2003

Costs of mental illness is billions

John Bowis - Conservative Member of the European Parliament for London and a consistent campaigner to raise the importance and profile of mental health issues - has expressed his shock at a report released today that has estimated the cost of mental illness in Britain at £77 billion a year. The Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health in London has recently conducted investigations into the costs of care, lost employment opportunities and poor quality of life due to mental illnesses.

Conservative Health Spokesman John Bowis said, "This report has looked into the otherwise 'hidden' costs of mental illness and highlights the huge financial implications of inadequate health promotion and illness prevention. Whilst the NHS spent £6.5 billion on mental health services last year, the real costs are clearly greater. Mental illness is now the fastest growing burden of disease, last year 92 million days were lost at work in the UK alone and 1 in 3 of us have visited our GP having a mental health problem - even if only 1 in 6 of us are having that problem properly diagnosed."

John Bowis added, "Many of the costs associated with mental illness such as a poor quality of life and extra burdens on the affected person's friends and family are difficult to calculate. The irony is, despite these huge costs we are still not directing enough resources where it is really needed. Until more resources are directed towards proper health promotion and illness prevention, the extent of 'hidden' costs as outlined in this report will continue to rise.

"The costs and consequences of mental illness have been hidden for far too long - as an MEP I will continue to work to ensure that mental illness is higher up Europe's health agenda."