Unequal Mental Health Access Could Cost The U.S. Nearly $500 Billion In 2025

Inequitable access to mental health treatment for racial and ethnic minority groups in the United States exacerbates health and productivity disparities that are estimated to cost $477.5 billion in 2024. The effect of inequity in mental health access is apparent in four different types of costs: potentially avoidable medical costs for chronic health conditions, emergency department use, productivity loss, and premature death. For this analysis, inequity was defined as differences in mental health utilization and outcomes across different racial and ethnic groups.

About two-thirds of the additional spending (67%) is due to a higher rate among racial and . . .