How Much Is Poor Mental Health Costing Us?

May 7, 2015 - PRLog -- Imagine if 25% of Americans all caught the flu in a given year? We’d call it a health epidemic! Quietly, 25% of Americans struggle with mental illness every year and yet, issues like depression, stress, and anxiety only make the news when linked to a major crisis like high profile suicide or act of violence. In fact, only 1/3rd of those people ever seek care for mental illness.

What does our inattention to mental health cost us in America?

* Depression is estimated to cause 200 million lost workdays each year at a cost to employers of $17 to $44 billion. It is the #1 cause of disability in adults age 18-44.

* Productivity losses related to personal and family health problems cost US employers $1,685 per year or $225.8 billon annually. This includes both absenteeism and presenteeism related to mental health.

* The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) conservatively estimates the total costs associated with serious mental illness, those disorders that are severely debilitating and affect about 6 percent of the adult population, to be in excess of $300 billion per year.

But here’s the good news: just like physical illness, those crises can be prevented by simple preventative strategies that improve our physical, emotional, and relational quality of life! May is Mental Health Awareness month in America, and Cornerstone Counseling Center of Chicago is providing resources that help people identify their risk for mental illness, while incorporating healthy habits that promote holistic well-being.

* CCCOC clinicians (psychologists, social workers, professional counselors) are available for interviews throughout the month to speak on topics like:

- Identifying when mental illness is affecting your life
- The cost of mental illness in society
- Ways to address the most common mental/emotional health issues: depression/anxiety, stress, family conflict, trauma/abuse, and addiction
- The relationship between physical, mental, and spiritual health
- Resources for those struggling with mental illness and their loved ones

*We are providing a free online screener at www.chicagocounseling.org that can help detect symptoms of mental illness and offer preventative resources to address the issue before it becomes serious.