This is how much mental health costs in relation to GDP across Europe

Jun 15, 2021

With the collaboration of Statista.

Mental Health European Union Future of Work Workforce and Employment Social Media Digital Identity Global Health

Covid-19 pandemic has led to a spike in the number of people seeking support. Image: Ümit Bulut/Unsplash

Niall McCarthy

Data Journalist, Statista

The pandemic has shone a harsh spotlight on the global mental health crisis.
OECD data shows that Europe's mental health care has been neglected and underfunded within member states for years.
The cost for treating mental health has been high in Finland, the Netherlands, Belgium and Norway.

As well as leading to greater awareness about mental health conditions, the global Covid-19 pandemic has also led to a spike in the number of people seeking support. Unfortunately, some countries are better placed to provide that support than others. Data published by the OECD shows that mental health care has been neglected and under funded within its member states for years.

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When it comes to Europe in particular, mental health issues were having a massive indirect cost in terms of higher unemployment and lost productivity in 2015. Adding in mental health and social spending, the cost was highest in Denmark, equating to 5.4 percent of the country's GDP. The cost was also high in Finland, the Netherlands, Belgium and Norway at five percent of GDP or higher.

Adding in mental health and social spending, the cost was highest in Denmark. Image: Statista

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