background Mental health disorders may bring costs and benefits to areas and sectors lying outside the health care system. However, little is known about these inter-sectoral costs and benefits (icbs) in spite of the increasing interest in societal cost-benefit analyses (scba) that attempt to quantify all costs and benefits involved.
aim To present a first inventory of icbs relating to mental health care and to describe the relation between icbs and scba.
method We reviewed the literature and conducted a secondary analysis of the results of a previous study.
results We found that at least eight mental health disorders were reported to have a (financial) impact on at least three sectors outside the health care system.
conclusion Further research into icbs is needed so that future inter-sectoral policy can be better directed and targeted more efficiently.