The article explores the limited progress in reducing mental disorder prevalence despite global investments in mental health systems. The article argues that addressing fundamental sources of shared distress, such as economic structures and policies, is essential for meaningful advancements in population mental health. It highlights how neoliberal ideologies, which prioritise economic optimisation and continuous growth, negatively impact mental health by promoting individualism, job insecurity, parental stress, and social disconnection.
The authors advocate for a shift towards a well-being economy that aligns commercial interests with collective well-being, urging mental health researchers and advocates to engage with economic policy discourse. They also call for the establishment of national mental wealth observatories to inform coordinated health, social, and economic policies, promoting a sustainable well-being economy and improved mental health outcomes.
