Every year, untreated mental health disorders cost Indianaans $4 billion

Indianapolis, Indiana – According to research from the Richard Fairbanks School of Public Health at Indiana University, 4 billion dollars are spent each year on untreated mental health conditions.

Lead author Dr. Heather Taylor said: “Keep in mind that we estimated this in 2019 prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, where we know pandemic restrictions are also associated in an increase in mental illness.”

According to the report, 429,000 Indiana residents suffer from untreated or inadequately managed mental illness.

Taylor said: “The individual is suffering from their illness which is not treated appropriately and so what happens is downstream we lose their capability of perhaps contributing to the economy, contributing to the workforce because they are unable to perhaps hold down a job.”

Untreated mental illness typically costs $600 for individuals and $1600 for families annually.

Taylor said: “Some other things we have to think about are criminal justice system costs, or costs to homeless shelters because these individuals go on untreated.”

Senate Bill 1 was drafted and passed using a portion of the Fairbanks study’s results. The Act provides funding for mental health crisis teams that collaborate with law enforcement, as well as expanding the state’s 988 crisis line.

According to Taylor, companies should encourage their staff to take more time off so they can attend to their mental health. The government isn’t the only organization that can assist.

“Sometimes insurance companies do not pay for mental health services or behavioral health services at the same level they might pay for other health care services.”

Because of high medical prices, a shortage of providers, and a lack of insurance coverage, Indiana’s healthcare system was determined to be among the worst in the country, according to a different Forbes Magazine research.