Early onset of mental disorder hurts – in your wallet
Posted on 21/05/2010 | 0 Comments
We have known for a long time that the majority of mental disorders begin before age 25. We have also known for a long time that early onset mental disorders are a risk for many poor short and long term outcomes – indeed that is why we recommend early identification and early effective treatment. So that we can try and prevent poor outcomes and enhance good outcomes.
So a recent study, just published has found that for each person (on average) who has an early onset mental disorder it costs her/him over ten thousand dollars per year when they are an adult – that is correct: PER YEAR. This is compared to what their siblings make. ! OUCH!
So, as you know, I am a strong advocate of early identification and early effective treatment for mental disorders. It is simply not right that we do not meet the mental health needs of children and youth at the time that they need the help most – right after they get sick! We know that not providing care early leads to a host of poor outcomes for the person and for our society. Now we have additional information – this is the personal cost – over ten thousand dollars per year! Think of the effect that has on life and wellbeing. Think of what negative spiral effect that could have – poverty, use of food banks, etc. Think of the loss of tax revenue and the impact of lower incomes on the lives of their families and the wellbeing of their children. Not only is this not economically unacceptable, it is simply not fair.
Hey governments. Hey society. Hey banks and wealthy corporations. Hey citizens. It is time we made the investments early on. We can not afford not to do that!
--Stan
Blog Tag Cloud
adhd anxiety disorders attention award awards behaviour bipolar blog brain & neurology bullying canada care carter center conference confidentiality control coping criminal justice system cruelty cutting depression discrimination doctor driving eating disordersRecent Comment
This is a great set of comments and rings very true.
I totally agree that scientists (just like everyone else) have their biases and foibles. After all, scientists are human beings too! But science is different than scientists.
The scientific method is the most objective frame that we have by which to evaluate and predict. Science is not about finding truth. It is only about being less wrong most of the time. The scientific method (experimental design and mathematics) gives us the ability to test what we believe. The scientific method is not used to prove something is correct, on the contrary, the scientific method is designed to prove that something is not correct! It is designed to test what is called the “null hypothesis”. It takes ideas that come out of left field (or wherever else they come from) and puts those ideas to an independent test.
t does not drive our beliefs. It does however challenge our beliefs. In that way it is self-correcting. Of course scientific inquiry and understanding lives within a wider social context. That is one of the great features of science.
But gravity is gravity, social context notwithstanding. And thus it is nasty, brutish and long. As Brecht said, (something like this) - the purpose of science is to save us from everlasting error.
By Christina Carew on May 11th
You can find us here too!
We would like to say thanks...
Without their help this initiative would not be possible. Thanks for you help.
Be the first to leave a comment
What do you think?