Taking a Closer Look at Mental Health Treatment Differences: Effectiveness of Mental Health Treatment by Provider Type in Racial and Ethnic Minorities

Major depressive disorders are a major cause of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) lost in the U.S. Additionally, depression will be 1 of the 3 leading causes of disability in the developed world by 2030. In 2017, the U.S. spent $183 billion on mental and substance use disorders, a figure likely to rise with continued population growth and aging. However, the greatest costs often cannot be directly measured, and include lost productivity/economic output, decreased quality of life, increased need for social support services, increased housing instability, and increased burden on caregivers. The World Economic Forum study has estimated global cost in lost economic output could reach $16 trillion in the next 20 years. Despite this, treatment rates remain low, with large disparities in treatment access and utilization especially in racial/ethnic minorities.