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Long term economic impact of childhood emotional and behavioural problems

 

Dates: 1 October 2017 - 31 December 2018
Funder: Economic and Social Research Council

Project description 

Mental health problems are common among children and young people and it is known that they can have long lasting effects into adulthood. These effects have economic consequences, both in the short term (e.g., through the costs of health care and educational support) and into adulthood and across the life course (e.g. service use in adulthood due to continued difficulties, loss of earnings and unemployment). There is, however, only limited information on the relationship between early difficulties and economic impacts in adulthood. Existing studies only look at short-term impacts, or focus on specific communities or types of mental disorder. 

This study will evaluate the economic impacts in adulthood of mental health problems experienced by children and young people on a range of outcomes in midlife, e.g. health service use, educational attainment, criminal justice system contact, relationship breakdown, unemployment, productivity losses, and welfare benefits. 

Methods

The research team will analyse these long-term economic impacts in three British birth cohorts (1946/NSHD, 1958/NCDS, 1970/BCS70) and examine implications of the findings for policy and service provision.    

Further project information

Principal Investigator: Dr Sara Evans-Lacko
CPEC Research team: Petra Gronholm, Nicola Brimblemcombe, Martin Knapp
Collaborators: University College London, Centre for Mental Health
Countries: England

Keywords: mental health

Contact

Petra Gronholm
p.c.gronholm@lse.ac.uk