The Economic Value of Main Report

Figure A10.2: Prevalence of obesity by education level

50.0%

40.0%

30.0%

20.0%

10.0%

0.0%

High school graduate

Some college

College graduate

Source: Derived from data provided by the National Center for Health Statistics

Depression

Capturing the full economic cost of mental illness is difficult because not all mental disorders have a correlation with education. For this reason, we only examine the economic costs associated with major depressive disorder (MDD), which comprise medical and pharmaceutical costs, workplace costs such as absenteeism, and suicide-related costs. 59 Figure A10.3 summarizes the prevalence of major depressive episodes (MDE) with severe impairment and treatment for depression among adults by education level, based on data provided by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. 60 As shown, people with some college education are most likely to have an MDE with severe impairment and seek treatment for depression compared to those with other levels of educational attainment. People with a high school diploma or less, along with college graduates, are all fairly similar in the prevalence rates.

59 Greenberg, Paul, Andree- Anne Fournier, Tammy Sisitsky, Crystal Pike, and Ronald Kesslaer. “The Economic Burden of Adults with Major Depressive Disorder in the United States (2019).” Adv Ther 40, 4460 -4479 (2023). 60 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. “Table 6.43A – Receipt of Treatment for Depression in Past Year: Among People Aged 18 or Older with Major Depressive Episode (MDE) and among People Aged 18 or Older with MDE with Severe Impairment in Past Year; by Ge ographic, Socioeconomic, and Health Characteristics, Numbers in Thousands, 2021 and 2022.”

The economic value of Monroe Community College

110