The economic impact of mental health stigma

Abstract

Mental illness-related stigma has far-reaching economic effects on many life domains, including housing, religious activities, access to treatment and care, health-seeking behavior, and mortality. Well-designed and coordinated responses to these economic effects will have significant influences on the domains in an individual's life and on their family members and others. Although a paucity of economic research exists in this area to assist decision makers, the evidence base is growing. In this chapter we introduce and describe a framework within which to examine the economic effects of stigma. We also present evidence from research on the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of interventions to combat stigma and discuss some of the gaps in our knowledge. We also include research-related recommendations, the results of which could feed into plans for commissioning services.