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At any one moment, around 20% of the working-age population in the average OECD country is suffering from a mental disorder in a clinical sense. In developed countries over 44% of people with mental difficulties do not seek help. In developing countries the number is closer to 90%. Stigma and fear are major barriers to looking for help. The median age at onset across all types of mental disorders is around 14 years of age, with 75% of all illnesses having developed by age 24. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that one in four people in the world will be affected by mental or neurological disorders at some point in their lives. Mental ill-health difficulties will account for 15% of the total burden of disease globally by 2020 and depression will be second only to heart disease. Mental health problems and illnesses typically account for approximately 30% of short- and long-term disability claims and 70% in the case of young people. An estimated 57.7 million adults in America, 26.2% of the population, have a mental disorder.

In any given year, one in five people in Canada experience a mental health problem or illness and the cost to the economy is well in excess of $50 billion. The costs of mental health problems have been estimated to be equivalent to be at least 3% of Gross National Product (GNP) in the EU. Costs associated with lost employment are

considered to be the single greatest contributor to costs. The OECD has called for policy to shift away from severe to common mental disorders and sub-threshold conditions and to focus upon more active and preventive strategies rather than current more reactive approaches.

Download the document: http://www.dpiap.org/upload/2013-05-14-03.pdf

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Country: Africa
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Source: GLADNET
When: 14/5/2013

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