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Economics of mental well-being: a prospective study estimating associated health care costs and sickness benefit transfers in Denmark

Author

Listed:
  • Ziggi Ivan Santini

    (University of Southern Denmark)

  • Hannah Becher

    (University of Southern Denmark)

  • Maja Bæksgaard Jørgensen

    (University of Southern Denmark)

  • Michael Davidsen

    (University of Southern Denmark)

  • Line Nielsen

    (University of Southern Denmark)

  • Carsten Hinrichsen

    (University of Southern Denmark)

  • Katrine Rich Madsen

    (University of Southern Denmark)

  • Charlotte Meilstrup

    (University of Southern Denmark)

  • Ai Koyanagi

    (Universitat de Barcelona, Fundació Sant Joan de Déu
    ICREA)

  • Sarah Stewart-Brown

    (University of Warwick)

  • David McDaid

    (London School of Economics and Political Science)

  • Vibeke Koushede

    (University of Copenhagen)

Abstract

Background Previous literature has examined the societal costs of mental illness, but few studies have estimated the costs associated with mental well-being. In this study, a prospective analysis was conducted on Danish data to determine 1) the association between mental well-being (measured in 2016) and government expenditure in 2017, specifially healthcare costs and sickness benefit transfers. Methods Data stem from a Danish population-based survey of 3,508 adults (aged 16 + years) in 2016, which was linked to Danish registry data. A validated scale (WEMWBS) was used for the assessment of mental well-being. Costs are expressed in USD PPP. A two-part model was applied to predict costs in 2017, adjusting for sociodemographics, health status (including psychiatric morbidity and health behaviour), as well as costs in the previous year (2016). Results Each point increase in mental well-being (measured in 2016) was associated with lower healthcare costs ($− 42.5, 95% CI = $− 78.7, $− 6.3) and lower costs in terms of sickness benefit transfers ($− 23.1, 95% CI = $− 41.9, $− 4.3) per person in 2017. Conclusions Estimated reductions in costs related to mental well-being add to what is already known about potential savings related to the prevention of mental illness. It does so by illustrating the savings that could be made by moving from lower to higher levels of mental well-being both within and beyond the clinical range. Our estimates pertain to costs associated with those health-related outcomes that were included in the study, but excluding other social and economic outcomes and benefits. They cover immediate cost estimates (costs generated the year following mental well-being measurement) and not those that could follow improved mental well-being over the longer term. They may therefore be considered conservative from a societal perspective. Population approaches to mental health promotion are necessary, not only to potentiate disease prevention strategies, but also to reduce costs related to lower levels of mental well-being in the non-mental illness population. Our results suggest that useful reductions in both health care resource use and costs, as well as in costs due to sick leave from the workplace, could be achieved from investment in mental well-being promotion within a year.

Suggested Citation

  • Ziggi Ivan Santini & Hannah Becher & Maja Bæksgaard Jørgensen & Michael Davidsen & Line Nielsen & Carsten Hinrichsen & Katrine Rich Madsen & Charlotte Meilstrup & Ai Koyanagi & Sarah Stewart-Brown & D, 2021. "Economics of mental well-being: a prospective study estimating associated health care costs and sickness benefit transfers in Denmark," The European Journal of Health Economics, Springer;Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gesundheitsökonomie (DGGÖ), vol. 22(7), pages 1053-1065, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:eujhec:v:22:y:2021:i:7:d:10.1007_s10198-021-01305-0
    DOI: 10.1007/s10198-021-01305-0
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jan-Emmanuel De Neve & Ed Diener & Louis Tay & Cody Xuereb, 2013. "The Objective Benefits of Subjective Well-Being," CEP Discussion Papers dp1236, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
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    Cited by:

    1. Robert J. Donovan & Vibeke J. Koushede & Catherine F. Drane & Carsten Hinrichsen & Julia Anwar-McHenry & Line Nielsen & Amberlee Nicholas & Charlotte Meilstrup & Ziggi Ivan Santini, 2021. "Twenty-One Reasons for Implementing the Act-Belong-Commit—‘ABCs of Mental Health’ Campaign," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-12, October.
    2. Santini, Ziggi Ivan & Thygesen, Lau Caspar & Koyanagi, Ai & Stewart-Brown, Sarah & Meilstrup, Charlotte & Nielsen, Line & Olsen, Kim Rose & Birkjær, Michael & McDaid, David & Koushede, Vibeke & Ekholm, 2022. "Economics of mental wellbeing: a prospective study estimating associated productivity costs due to sickness absence from the workplace in Denmark," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 116690, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.

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