The Societal Impact of Untreated Mood Disorders

13 December 2024

If you’ve ever had a rough day, you know how hard it can be to function when you’re feeling down. Now, imagine that feeling not just lasting for a day, but for weeks, months, or even years. That’s the reality for millions of people living with mood disorders like depression and bipolar disorder. But what happens when these mood disorders go untreated? You might think it’s just a personal struggle, but the truth is, untreated mood disorders can have far-reaching consequences that impact society as a whole.

In this article, we're going to dive deep into the societal impact of untreated mood disorders. We’ll explore the ripple effects on families, workplaces, healthcare systems, and even the economy. And if you're thinking, "Well, that sounds pretty heavy," don’t worry—we’ll break it all down in a way that’s easy to understand and (hopefully) a little eye-opening.

What Are Mood Disorders?

Before we jump into the societal impact, it’s worth taking a moment to define what we’re talking about. Mood disorders are mental health conditions that primarily affect a person’s emotional state. The two most well-known types are:

1. Depression - A persistent feeling of sadness or loss of interest that affects daily functioning.
2. Bipolar Disorder - A condition characterized by extreme mood swings, including emotional highs (mania or hypomania) and lows (depression).

These are more than just “bad days” or “mood swings.” They’re serious, long-term conditions that can drastically impact a person’s ability to function in their day-to-day life.

The Scope of the Problem

Let’s start by looking at how common mood disorders actually are. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide, affecting more than 280 million people. Bipolar disorder affects at least 45 million people globally. These numbers are staggering, but what makes them even more concerning is the fact that many of these cases go untreated.

In the United States, for example, it’s estimated that nearly 60% of people with a mood disorder receive no treatment at all. That’s millions of people walking around, struggling with symptoms that could be managed with proper care. And untreated mood disorders don’t just silently fester—they have a profound impact on society.

The Cost to Healthcare Systems

Increased Healthcare Costs

When mood disorders are left untreated, one of the first places we see an impact is in the healthcare system. People with untreated mood disorders are more likely to experience other health problems, both mental and physical. For example, depression has been linked to heart disease, diabetes, and even weakened immune systems.

What this means is that people with untreated mood disorders often end up using more healthcare services. They visit emergency rooms more often, need more hospitalizations, and require more treatments for physical ailments. All of this adds up. In fact, untreated mental health conditions cost the global economy $1 trillion per year in lost productivity, according to the WHO.

Mental Health Crisis

And let’s not forget the mental health crisis we've been hearing so much about lately. With so many people going untreated, the mental health care system is already stretched thin. The lack of available mental health professionals and the stigma surrounding mental illness only compounds the problem. When people don’t seek help because they’re afraid of being judged or because they don’t have access to care, the entire healthcare system suffers.

The Impact on Families and Relationships

Emotional Toll on Families

Mood disorders don’t just affect the person who has them—they ripple out and touch everyone around them, especially family members. Living with someone who has an untreated mood disorder can be incredibly challenging. Family members often feel like they’re walking on eggshells, never knowing what mood their loved one will be in or how to help them.

Over time, this can lead to emotional burnout. Spouses, children, and other family members may develop feelings of helplessness, frustration, and even resentment. Relationships can become strained, and in some cases, families may even break apart due to the stress of dealing with untreated mood disorders.

Financial Burden

Let’s not forget the financial burden. When someone’s mood disorder goes untreated, they may struggle to hold down a job, which can lead to lost income. In some cases, family members may even have to quit their jobs or cut back on work to take care of their loved one. This can create a cycle of financial instability that affects the entire household.

The Impact on Workplaces

Lost Productivity

If someone is dealing with a mood disorder, it’s not just their personal life that suffers—their work life takes a hit too. People with untreated mood disorders often have difficulty concentrating, miss deadlines, and take more sick days. They may even show up to work but be so mentally checked out that they’re not productive.

This phenomenon, known as presenteeism, costs businesses billions of dollars each year in lost productivity. According to the American Psychiatric Association, employees with untreated depression use 2 to 4 times more health care resources than their peers and are responsible for 200 million lost workdays annually in the U.S. alone.

Increased Workplace Tension

Mood disorders can also create tension in the workplace. Colleagues may not understand what’s going on and may view the affected individual as lazy, unreliable, or difficult to work with. This can lead to strained relationships among coworkers, which in turn can lower morale and reduce overall team productivity.

Moreover, managers may not be equipped to handle employees with mental health issues, which can create an uncomfortable or even hostile work environment. This can lead to higher turnover rates, as employees either quit or are let go because they’re unable to meet job expectations.

The Economic Impact

Unemployment and Underemployment

Untreated mood disorders can make it incredibly difficult for people to find and keep jobs, leading to higher rates of unemployment and underemployment. This not only affects the individual but also the economy as a whole. When people are unable to work due to untreated mental health issues, they’re not contributing to the economy in the way they could be.

The effects are particularly pronounced in lower-income communities, where access to mental health care is often limited. This creates a vicious cycle: people can’t afford treatment, so they can’t work, which means they continue to struggle financially and mentally.

Increased Public Assistance

When individuals with untreated mood disorders are unable to work, they often end up relying on public assistance programs like disability benefits or social welfare. While these programs are essential for helping people in need, they also place additional strain on government resources. The more people who require assistance, the more money governments have to allocate to these programs—money that could be spent elsewhere if more people received adequate mental health treatment.

The Social Stigma and Its Consequences

Perpetuating the Cycle of Silence

One of the biggest reasons people don’t seek treatment for mood disorders is the stigma surrounding mental illness. Societal attitudes toward mental health are slowly changing, but we’re not there yet. Many people still feel that admitting to having a mental health issue is a sign of weakness, or they fear being judged by their friends, family, or coworkers.

This stigma creates a vicious cycle. People don’t seek treatment, their symptoms worsen, and they become further isolated from society. In some cases, untreated mood disorders can even lead to homelessness or incarceration. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), about 20% of state prisoners and 21% of local jail prisoners have a recent history of mental illness, many of which are mood disorders.

The Cost of Ignoring the Problem

The bottom line is that untreated mood disorders don’t just affect the individual—they affect all of us. Whether it’s through increased healthcare costs, lost productivity, or strained family relationships, the societal impact of untreated mood disorders is far-reaching.

Addressing this issue requires a societal shift in how we view and treat mental health. We need to break the stigma, encourage people to seek help, and ensure that mental health care is accessible to everyone. Because when we ignore mental health, we’re not just turning a blind eye to individual suffering—we’re allowing the ripple effects to spread throughout society.

Conclusion: Time to Act

Untreated mood disorders are more than just a personal issue—they’re a societal crisis. From healthcare systems to families, workplaces to the economy, the impact is pervasive and profound. But the good news is that with proper treatment, many people with mood disorders can lead fulfilling, productive lives.

So, what can we do? For starters, we need to continue pushing for better access to mental health care and working to break the stigma that prevents so many from seeking treatment. It’s time we start treating mental health with the same urgency and importance as physical health because, in the end, they’re deeply intertwined.