We are pleased to host the second Essen Economics of Mental Health Workshop on the 24 & 25 of June 2019.

The workshop is themed: “Mental Health over the Life-Course”.

Half of those with a lifetime mental health problem first experience symptoms by the age of 14, and 75% before they reach their mid-twenties (Kessler et al., 2007). This implies that nearly one in five individuals has experienced the onset of a mental health problem by their mid-twenties. The conditions are often persistent and recurrent meaning they influence the entire work-life of the affected individuals (OECD, 2012). However, some older individuals may face a “double whammy” due to increased longevity, dementia and Alzheimer are a growing societal concern. The Alzheimer's Association (USA) reports that currently “someone in the United States develops Alzheimer's every 65 seconds. By mid-century, someone in the United States will develop the disease every 33 seconds.” Alzheimer's Association (USA) reports the societal costs to the USA from all dementias (including Alzheimer) to be $277billion in 2018 growing to $1.1 trillion by 2050. 

This workshop aims to gather (junior) researchers with an interest in applying the tools of economics to problems surrounding mental health. Papers considering a life-course aspect of mental health are preferred. This includes, but is not limited to, mental health economics studies looking at informal care, loneliness, social exclusion, access to health care, insurance coverage, declines in physical health, age of onset, dementia, suicide, etc. Empirical analyses in this field are especially encouraged for submission.

Christopher J. Ruhm (University of Virginia) and Fabrizio Mazzonna (Universitá della Svizzera Italiana) will deliver the keynotes for this workshop.

For further details, please see the Flyer (you may also use this for further distribution) or consult the application page.

Organization

The Workshop is organized by Christoph Kronenberg, Ph.D (CINCH, University Duisburg-Essen) in collaboration with Prof. Dr. Ansgar Wübker (LSCR, RWI and Ruhr-University Bochum).

Die Durchführung der Veranstaltung wird durch eine Zuwendung der Diligentia Stiftung ermöglicht.

This event was made possible with kind support from the Diligentia Foundation.