The economic value of informal mental health caring in Australia
Overview
This 2017 Australian study estimated the economic value of informal mental health caring. It found 240,000 mental health carers providing 208 million hours annually - equivalent to 173,000 full-time workers. The replacement cost totalled $13.2 billion, representing 1.7 times national mental health expenditure. Government spending on carer support was only $1.2 billion, highlighting significant economic contribution and modest support for carers.
Individual authors
- Sandra Diminic (Policy & Epidemiology Group, Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research; School of Public Health, University of Queensland)
- Emily Hielscher (same affiliations)
- Yong Yi Lee (same affiliations)
- Meredith Harris (same affiliations)
- Jaclyn Schess (Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research)
- Jan Kealton (Carer consultant)
- Harvey Whiteford (same affiliations as Diminic)
Key insights
Key Insights:
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240,000 Australians provide informal mental health care annually
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Replacement cost: $13.2 billion - 1.7x total national mental health spending
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Mental health carers provide 208 million hours of care yearly
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Government spends only $1.2 billion supporting mental health carers
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Primary carers average 36 hours weekly; 38% provide 40+ hours
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67% of caring time involves emotional support and psychosocial care
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Only 24% of primary carers receive Carer Payment benefits
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35% of carers unaware of available support services and programs
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Categories
Resource type
Literature Review