A New Benchmark for Mental Health Systems
Tackling the Social and Economic Costs of Mental Ill-Health
Mental ill-health affects millions of people, and drives economic costs of more than
4% of GDP. A good mental health system helps people stay in good mental health, and
connects those in need to appropriate support to manage their mental health condition
or even fully recover from it. However, mental health care has long been neglected
and under-funded, and unmet need for care is still high. The long-lasting COVID-19
crisis and the toll it is taking on mental health has made mental health systems more
important than ever. This timely report provides an in-depth analysis of how well
countries are delivering the policies and services that matter for mental health system
performance. The report highlights recent reforms countries have taken to strengthen
mental health performance, including by increasing access to mental health care, ensuring
that service users take the lead in planning and even delivering services, and prioritising
integration and mental health promotion. The report also identifies promising approaches
countries should pursue to better meet their populations’ mental health needs. This
report sets up a framework for understanding mental health performance through internationally
comparable indicators, an approach set to grow stronger still in the coming years
as more data become available.
Published on June 08, 2021
In series:OECD Health Policy Studiesview more titles