Prevention and management of mental health conditions in Uzbekistan: the case for investment

Overview

Mental, neurological and substance use conditions pose a significant challenge in Uzbekistan, not only because of the human suffering and public health burden they cause or contribute to but also because they have substantial social and economic consequences, such as their impact on workforce productivity. This report provides an assessment of the current mental health situation in the country, including challenges and opportunities for development of the mental health system, and also economic evidence of the attributable, avertable burden associated with a number of leading mental, neurological and substance use conditions – psychosis, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety disorders, epilepsy and alcohol use disorders. Intervention costs, health gains and economic benefits were estimated for these six conditions as well as for two school-based interventions for preventing depression and suicide.