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Mental Health Therapy as a Core Strategy for Increasing Human Capital: Evidence from Ghana

Author

Listed:
  • Nathan Barker
  • Gharad T. Bryan
  • Dean Karlan
  • Angela Ofori-Atta
  • Christopher R. Udry

Abstract

We study the impact of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for individuals selected from the general population of poor households in rural Ghana. Results from 2-3 months after a randomized intervention show strong impacts on mental and physical health, cognitive and socioemotional skills, and downstream economic outcomes. We find no evidence of heterogeneity by baseline mental distress; we argue that this is because CBT can improve human capital for a general population of poor individuals through two pathways. First, CBT reduces vulnerability to deteriorating mental health; and second, CBT directly improves bandwidth, increasing cognitive and socioemotional skills and hence economic outcomes.

Suggested Citation

  • Nathan Barker & Gharad T. Bryan & Dean Karlan & Angela Ofori-Atta & Christopher R. Udry, 2021. "Mental Health Therapy as a Core Strategy for Increasing Human Capital: Evidence from Ghana," NBER Working Papers 29407, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:29407
    Note: DEV EH LS PE
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    Cited by:

    1. Christopher Roth & Peter Schwardmann & Egon Tripodi, 2024. "Depression Stigma," Rationality and Competition Discussion Paper Series 499, CRC TRR 190 Rationality and Competition.
    2. Christopher Roth & Peter Schwardmann & Egon Tripodi, 2024. "Misperceived Effectiveness and the Demand for Psychotherapy," Rationality and Competition Discussion Paper Series 500, CRC TRR 190 Rationality and Competition.
    3. Michelle Acampora & Francesco Capozza & Vahid Moghani, 2022. "Mental Health Literacy, Beliefs and Demand for Mental Health Support among University Students," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 22-079/I, Tinbergen Institute.
    4. Siddique, Abu & Islam, Asad & Mozumder, Tanvir Ahmed & Rahman, Tabassum & Shatil, Tanvir, 2022. "Forced Displacement, Mental Health, and Child Development: Evidence from the Rohingya Refugees," SocArXiv b4fc7, Center for Open Science.
    5. Dinarte Diaz, Lelys & Egana-delSol, Pablo & Martínez A., Claudia & Rojas A., Cindy, 2024. "When Emotion Regulation Matters: The Efficacy of Socio-Emotional Learning to Address School-Based Violence in Central America," IZA Discussion Papers 16831, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • H0 - Public Economics - - General
    • H00 - Public Economics - - General - - - General
    • I0 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - General
    • I00 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - General - - - General
    • I3 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty
    • J0 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - General
    • J01 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - General - - - Labor Economics: General
    • J10 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - General
    • J21 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Force and Employment, Size, and Structure
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • O0 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - General
    • O1 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development
    • O10 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - General

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