Study estimates direct costs of mental illness to be 30% higher by 2025

Direct costs linked to mental health-related pathologies would be as much as 30% higher by 2025. 30% higher in 2025 than at present, according to a study by the consulting firm IQVIA. The study shows that during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemicin 2020, increased by by 67%. the number of emergency department contacts related to anxiety problems.

The report addresses. mental health in Spaina major cause of incapacity that has consequences in the decreased quality of life of the population and a significant socioeconomic impact.

Anxiety and depression increasingly common

According to these figures, the economic impact of anxiety y depression decreased from 2019 to 2020 from €1,307 million to €1,189 million, down 9 %, but in 2021 it underwent an increase of 27 %.1,514 million euros.

Thus, the report predicts that if the number of diagnoses continues to increase at the current rate, in 5 years the number of young people will (between 15 and 25 years of age) with anxiety or depression will have increased by a factor of 5exceeding one million patients.

The prevalence of this type of disorders is estimated to be about 13 % of the Spanish population. over 14 years of ageaccording to the IQVIA databases, which collect the number of patients who visit the National Health System (SNS)..

In absolute values it means that 5.7 million people over 14 years of age are diagnosed with this type of disorder in Spain. Moreover, it is estimated that each year, between 2017 and 2021, anxiety and depression disorders will have affected a range of 1.8% and 2% of the population. additional.

Gray days

The effects of the time change on health are increasingly Tiredness, discouragement and accidents: the effects of the time change on health and according to the survey of mental health conducted by the National Institute of Statistics (INE)during the pandemic, the percentage of the population with a feeling of being down or depressed increased, with sleep problems y little joy or interest in getting things done.

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines mental health as the state of well-being in which a person is aware of his or her own capabilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.