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Talking Therapy: Impacts of a Nationwide Mental Health Service in England

Author

Listed:
  • Oparina, Ekaterina

    (CEP, London School of Economics)

  • Krekel, Christian

    (London School of Economics)

  • Srisuma, Sorawoot

    (University of Surrey)

Abstract

Common mental health problems impose significant costs on individuals and societies, yet healthcare systems often overlook them. We provide the first causal evidence on the effectiveness of a pioneering, nationwide mental health service for treating depression and anxiety disorders in England using non-experimental data and methods. We exploit variations in waiting times to identify treatment effects, based on a novel dataset of over one million patients that well represent the English population. Our findings show that treatment improved mental health and reduced impairment in work and social life. We also provide suggestive evidence of enhanced employment. However, effects vary across patients, services, and areas. The programme is cost-effective and provides a blueprint for treating mental health in other countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Oparina, Ekaterina & Krekel, Christian & Srisuma, Sorawoot, 2024. "Talking Therapy: Impacts of a Nationwide Mental Health Service in England," IZA Discussion Papers 16839, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp16839
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    policy evaluation; mental health; psychological therapies; quasi- natural experiment; machine learning; cost-benefit analysis;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C31 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Cross-Sectional Models; Spatial Models; Treatment Effect Models; Quantile Regressions; Social Interaction Models
    • C32 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Time-Series Models; Dynamic Quantile Regressions; Dynamic Treatment Effect Models; Diffusion Processes; State Space Models
    • D61 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Allocative Efficiency; Cost-Benefit Analysis
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs

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