Untreated mental health illness continues to be a concern for Indiana employers. The 2023 Indiana legislative session saw immense progress in addressing these concerns, but there is still more work left to be done.
A new study from the Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health at IU Indianapolis shows the economic burden placed upon Hoosier businesses by mental illness is $4.2 billion. The human impact is also significant, and the study shows that one in five Hoosiers with mental illness do not receive the treatment they need.
According to the report, “The largest cost attributable to untreated mental illness was premature mortality at over $1.4 billion. Productivity losses were estimated to cost $885 million each year. Other factors include direct health care costs, incarceration, homeless shelter costs and caregiving, totaling $142 million to Medicaid, $567 million to private insurers, $106 million to Indiana’s criminal justice system, $9.9 million to Indiana through homeless supports $566 million for caregiving and $407 million in unemployment for those unable to work.”
At our Indiana Chamber Legislative Preview on Monday, we highlighted the Chamber’s continued support for building on the mental and public health legislation passed in 2023.
