Poor mental health costs European economies an estimated €76 billion annually-roughly 6% of total health budgets-according to a new report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). These conditions worsen other physical ailments, driving up treatment costs.
The OECD projects mental health struggles will cut the EU's GDP by an average of 1.7% per year from 2025 to 2050. Major depressive disorders, anxiety, and alcohol use disorders are expected to reduce healthy life expectancy by 2.5 years across the bloc over the next quarter-century, leading to roughly 28,000 premature deaths annually.
Mental disorders have surged nearly 21% across OECD nations in the last 20 years, affecting more than one in five people. Anxiety leads at 40% of cases, followed by depression at 20% and substance use at 17%.
Women, young people, and those with low socioeconomic status are hit hardest. Over one in four people aged 15 to 24 now experience a mental health disorder. If untreated before age 24, these conditions often persist into adulthood. The report cites COVID-19 restrictions, war, geopolitical instability, economic crises, climate change anxiety-84% of young people globally report moderate to extreme worry-and problematic social media use as key drivers.
Despite national mental health policies in most countries, 67.5% of those needing care in the EU lack access to treatment. Barriers include out-of-pocket payments, scarce rural services, and professional shortages. The OECD recommends shifting care from hospitals to community settings like schools and workplaces.