Mental health policy and practice across Europe: an overview

chapter
eight
A policy framework for the
promotion of mental health
and the prevention of
mental disorders
Eva Jané-Llopis and Peter Anderson
The burden of mental disorders
Mental and behavioural disorders are found in people of all ages, regions, countries
and societies, being present at any point in time in 10 per cent of the adult
population (WHO 2001). More than one person in four will develop one or
more mental or behavioural disorders during their life. Five of the ten leading
causes of disability and premature death worldwide are mental and behavioural
disorders, including depression, harmful alcohol use, schizophrenia and compulsive
disorder (Murray and Lopez 1996). In 1990 mental and neurological
disorders accounted for 10 per cent of global disability and premature death. In
2002 this increased to 12.9 per cent. In 2020, it is estimated that this will
increase to 15 per cent, with unipolar depression alone accounting for 5.7 per
cent of worldwide disability (Murray and Lopez 1996).
In addition to the health burden, the social and economic costs of mental ill
health for societies are wide ranging, long lasting and enormous. Besides
the health and social service costs, lost employment and reduced productivity,
the impact on families and caregivers, levels of crime and public safety, and the
negative impact of premature mortality, there are many other immeasurable
costs that have not been taken into account, such as lost opportunity costs to
individuals and families (WHO 2001).