Media: EU loses 600B euros per year due to depressed population

The depressive mental state of residents of the EU, caused by the situation in Ukraine and the COVID-19 pandemic, costs the community’s economy 600 billion euros, which is 4.2% of its total gross domestic product (GDP), according to the Polish Economic Institute (PIE) analytical center, reported from TASS.

"In 27 EU countries and the UK, total costs due to mental health problems exceed 4.2% of GDP, that is, more than 600 billion euros. More than a third of these costs are due to a decrease in employment and productivity,” the portal cites excerpts from the report PIE. Interia also notes that, according to a Eurobarometer survey, 62% of respondents said that the mental health of European citizens was most affected by the conflict in Ukraine and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mental illness has become a challenge not only for the EU economy, but also for the world economy as a whole.

According to the World Economic Forum, by 2030 the cost of treating such diseases will be half of the global cost of combating all non-communicable diseases. Interia notes, citing data from the World Health Organization, that investments in comprehensive diagnosis and treatment of adverse psychological conditions "pay off fourfold due to subsequent increases in productivity.”





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