The Economics of Mental Health Care: Industry, Government and Community Issues

This book is an industry study of mental health care: a sector that produces multiple outputs within a climate of stigma, consumer ignorance and knowledge gaps in treatment. It provides a conceptual approach to the nature of the multiple outputs (diagnosis, treatment, accommodation etc.) that are associated with mental health care. Special attention is given also to the economic role of government. The tools of conventional economic theory are used to analyze the fact that the preferences of individuals can be over-ridden in some cases while, generally, the needs and wants of people with mental illnesses and their care-givers, are neglected. Finally, an approach, highly relevant in this era of deinstitutionalisation, to analyzing co-production between government and the community is provided.D. P. Doessel is the author of 'The Economics of Mental Health Care: Industry, Government and Community Issues' with ISBN 9780754617143 and ISBN 0754617149.