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USC Schaeffer Report: The Cost of Mental Illness - New York Facts & Figures

Improving access to high-quality medical and behavioral health care for patients with mental illness remains one of the most vexing problems facing the healthcare system in the United States.  These problems can be particularly difficult in a geographically - and culturally - diverse state like New York, with large underserved populations.

This chartbook attempts to quantify the magnitude of the challenges facing New York in terms of the econimic burden associated with behavioral health issues.  We describe the size and characteristics of the population with mental illness and show the impact on the healthcare system based on high rates of hospitalization.  We also note the unmet need in terms of behavioral health care professionals, the rates of opioid abuse and overdoses, and discuss the implications for the criminal justice system in New York.