With one in every five Indian suffering from some mental disorder, mental health-related costs would account for 20% of economic loss between 2012-30.

Dr.Samir Parikh, director, mental health & behavioral sciences, Fortis Hospital, New Delhi, said, "Mental health illness’s indirect costs are higher than direct costs. Direct cost in mental health care includes costs of care like medication, clinic visits (fees), hospitalization, diagnostic services, residential care, community services, rehabilitation and non-medical costs like transportation for treatment and care, etc. These are the value of resources used in the treatment of disease."
While speaking over the indirect costs due to mental health, Dr.Parikh said, "Indirect costs are value of resources lost as a result of illness. Indirect costs due to mental health include costs due to reduced supply of labor (unemployment), reduced educational attainment, expenses for social supports, costs associated with consequences like chronic disability, homelessness, crime, suicide, homicide, caregiver burden, value of family caregiver’s time, medical complications of mental illnesses, early mortality, substance use and other unquantifiable costs like emotional burden on family etc. Other costs include those for health awareness campaigning."
Mental health also affects the economy through early retirements, negative expectations regarding employment and reduced productivity. The report noted that on a whole, it leads to increase in expenditure for the healthcare system, individuals and households. Dr.Parikh said, "So far as mental health in India is concerned, there is an urgent need to shift from curative approach to a preventive one."
Source-Medindia