Demographics: Cost and burden
Recent research has shown that the health burden of mental illness on the Australian society is growing and impacting on the ability of the current health care system to provide adequate services. We will discuss the cost and burden to both the individual and health care system in monetary values as well as disability associated with mental illness.
Direct & indirect costs
What do you know?
What is the cost of mental illness/disorders to the healthcare system? What is the cost to the individual?
The cost of mental illness can be looked at from a number of different perspectives. We can divide these into monetary costs i.e. cost to the health care system, costs to local governments/councils (services provided by local charities and their expenditure), costs for the individual (employment, accommodation, transport and cost of medications) and cost to the families (loss of income to take care of loved one).
According to the National Mental Health Strategy (1998-2003) the direct cost of mental disorders in Australia was estimated to be $2 billion in 1989-90, of course you would expect this figure to be much higher now. The health costs from loss of earnings due to all suicides and suicide attempts over a one-year period was estimated to be $920 million for the financial year 1989-90.
The indirect cost of mental illness/disorders has not been taken into account in these figures. The indirect cost includes coronial inquiries, loss of income for families, welfare costs for carers etc.
Reading
Meadows G. and Singh B. (2001) Mental health in Australia. Collaborative Community Practice. Oxford University press Sydney page 118.
This outlines the cost of mental health care delivery for 1997.
Mental health in Australia and New Zealand (Chapter 6) / Pamela Wood, Pat Bradley and Ruth De Souza. - pp.80-97.
Source: Psychiatric and mental health nursing / Ruth Elder, Katie Evans, Debra Nizette. - Marrickville, N.S.W. : Elsevier Australia, , c2005. Lecturer: Wood, Pam pp. 83. (E-reserve)
Discusses the cost and disability associated with mental disorders this will be useful for your learning journal activity.
Find out more by exploring these web sites
The burden of disease and injury in Australia
The burden of mental illness takes the disability caused by the disorder into consideration. There are specific ways of measuring how a particular disorder impacts on a person’s daily life. One such tool is the Disability Adjusted Life Year (DALY) tool. This tool is explained in the web site below.
Take some time to explore this site which contains a lot of information regarding the burden of disease.
This site gives insights into the significant contribution communities can have in helping each other to maintain a positive balance.
Activity: Cost vs burden
Is there a difference between cost and burden?
Can you find figures comparing the cost/burden of mental illness and physical illness over the last five years?
Can you find figures finding the comparative budget allocation for mental illness versus physical illness? What does this say about social attitude?
Learning Journal
Go back to your learning journal. Do you understand the enormity of the problem for the individual, family and community? Have you changed your perception of the impact of mental health problems? In what ways?