New research has highlighted an increase in the cost of care provided by NHS Mental Health Trusts, with the highest costs seen among working-age men and residents from England’s most deprived areas.

The report, conducted by the University of York with support from the Health Foundation, showed that between 2016 and 2019, total costs of secondary mental health services increased by 13%, outpacing the average inflation rate of 2.3%. The number of individuals needing to use NHS secondary mental health services also rose by 8%.

The research indicates that relative to population estimates, a disproportionate number of young people aged between 11 and 20 are seeking these services. However, the total cost is higher for young girls aged 16–20 and working-age men, with the latter group bearing the highest treatment cost per patient.

Deprivation

Patients from England’s most deprived neighborhoods accounted for 14% of all mental health patients, with annual costs ranging from £761 million to £840 million. In contrast, those from the least deprived areas, making up 7% of patients, incurred annual costs of between £244 million and £300 million. The North of England exhibits the highest cost per patient, whereas the South, excluding Greater London, has the lowest.

The study also found that the cost per patient for ethnic minorities consistently exceeds that for white patients, with some ethnic groups having more than twice the average annual cost per patient. This is in contrast to white patients, who represent over 74% of total patients and total cost.

Driving factors

While the study did not look at the underlying reasons for these figures, related research suggests that common mental health disorders, such as anxiety and depression, along with eating disorders and self harm, are the primary factors driving the utilization of services and costs for young girls.

Working-age men are the most costly to treat because they are more prone to serious mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, less likely to seek early treatment, and more likely to be detained under the Mental Health Act.

Although not specifically examined in this study, the steep and persistent gradients in costs for those living in the most deprived areas and ethnic minorities are likely to be closely linked, the researchers say—with individuals from ethnic minority groups also more likely to reside in the most deprived areas compared to white British counterparts.

Disproportionate Impact

Lead author of the research, Professor Rowena Jacobs from the Center for Health Economics at the University of York, said, “Mental health problems are more likely to affect people facing discrimination, unemployment, or poverty—factors more commonly associated with minority ethnic populations and individuals in deprived areas.

“Our findings also emphasize the disproportionate impact of poor mental health on young girls and the working-age population. In addition to the cost of treatment to the NHS, this has an enormous impact on an individual’s well-being, as well as on the economy through reduced productivity.

“Understanding the costs associated with mental health care is crucial for ensuring that resources are allocated to where they are most needed.”

The data analyzed in the study came from the Mental Health Service Data Set, which includes comprehensive data on spending by the 54 NHS Mental Health Trusts in England. However, as it does not include data on spending by independent sector providers, the real level of spending on mental health care is even higher.

Quality of care

The researchers will now be looking at whether the increases in costs to the NHS represent value for money and how much it would cost to improve quality of care by addressing factors such as waiting times, readmission rates, and improving continuity of care.

Dr. Jacobs added, “For instance, there is a significant financial and emotional toll when patients wait a long time for their care, are discharged too soon, or get readmitted, and our next steps will include an exploration of the costs of investing more in supporting mental health teams to enhance the quality of care people receive and improve patient outcomes.”