The Economics of Mental Health

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DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The goal of the proposed program is to train the next generation of scholars in health and mental health economics by providing a broad (across the core disciplines of economics) and deep (within the field of mental health economics) academic experience. Progress in delivering cost-effective, equitable mental health care in the U.S. population with its heterogeneous needs and resources (e.g. insurance coverage) requires creative, insightful economic analysis. This is the main rationale for providing training in this area. The proposed program provides training in the core analytical tools of economics (microeconomic analysis and econometrics), and specialized training and mentoring in the methods, topics, and data in health and mental health economics. The training is organized around a core seminar, specialized coursework, development of research skills, and a mentored dissertation project. The proposed training also emphasizes professional skills and practice in areas like grantsmanship, research ethics, peer review, and conference presentations. The proposed program's research area is the economics of health and mental health. While the program covers a broad set of issues and disease areas in the economics of mental health, it will emphasize particular topics that reflect its faculty's expertise: vulnerable populations (children, elderly, and economically disadvantaged); evaluation of interventions and policies, and pharmacoeconomics; applied econometrics; and basic training in the biology of mental health. The core scientific discipline is economics, with focus on microeconomics, econometrics, and health economics. Yet given the interdisciplinary nature of scientific inquiry in mental health, a strong training faculty representing psychiatry, psychology, geriatrics, political science, sociology, public affairs, philosophy, and epidemiology has been assembled. In each academic year we propose to have six predoctoral students in training; they will generally be at different stages of their studies. Virtually all trainees will be at early career stages, typically with 0-2 years of post-baccalaureate work experience; most have baccalaureate training in economics, statistics, mathematics, or public policy. Relevance In light of the significant concerns about how the mental health care system can deliver beneficial yet often-costly interventions in populations that may be vulnerable with respect to disease and economic resources, it is critical that public and private decision makers undertake their work supported by a solid foundation of economic reasoning and evidence. We take seriously the importance of training new scholars with the skills required to provide this knowledge.