We are all Marc
On the afternoon of November 20, after attending ISPOR Europe 2024 for three days, I took an Uber to the airport. Events like these always leave the mind buzzing with reflections on statistics, studies, and projections about healthcare systems. Yet, the real story of impact wasn’t in the panels or presentations — it was behind the steering wheel. My driver, Marc (a pseudonym), shared his story as we drove through the streets of Barcelona.
Marc was a man in his forties, cheerful but weary. He had been an entrepreneur for more than four years, striving to build a renewable energy business. It was his dream and his way of contributing to a sustainable future. However, shrinking profit margins and an increasingly competitive market dominated by large corporations forced him to close down.
He decided to drive for Uber for four weeks while figuring out his next steps. His true passion, he confessed, was Mediterranean cuisine, and he was considering emigrating to open a restaurant. But the recent death of his older brother, when he was only 47 years old, and after an eight-month battle with cancer, had left him adrift. He was overwhelmed, thinking of his sister-in-law and his young nephews, aged 11 and 7. A devastating scenario.
As I listened to his story, I wondered how many people are trapped at the intersection of physical, mental, and economic health. Marc’s struggle was not just about grieving his brother’s death; it was about hopelessness and uncertainty. Who among us doesn’t carry an emotional burden?
Mental health issues have reached epidemic proportions, both in prevalence and economic cost. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, mental illnesses already represented a significant burden. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), depression and anxiety were among the leading causes of disability, affecting over 300 million people worldwide.
The economic cost associated with these disorders was also staggering. A 2016 study by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) estimated that the global economic impact of mental health disorders exceeded 1 billion of dollars annually in lost productivity. Furthermore, people with mental health conditions faced significant barriers to accessing treatment, exacerbating the burden.
Then came the COVID-19 pandemic, which took the mental health crisis to another level. Social isolation, economic uncertainty, and mass grief affected millions worldwide. WHO reported that in the first year of the pandemic, the prevalence of anxiety and depression increased by 25% — an alarming figure.
The impact was not only emotional. Economic costs also skyrocketed. A recent Deloitte report estimates that in 2021, the global cost of mental health reached 2.5 trillion of dollars, including both direct healthcare costs and indirect costs such as lost productivity and absenteeism. This figure could climb to $6 trillion by 2030 if corrective measures are not taken.
Direct costs include spending on diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation, while indirect costs encompass lost productivity, caregiver impact, and diminished quality of life. For people like Marc, these figures are not abstract. The lack of social and economic support turns an individual struggle into an unsustainable burden.
In low- and middle-income countries, where most of the world’s population lives, less than 20% of people with severe mental health disorders receive adequate treatment. This perpetuates a vicious cycle: untreated mental health issues worsen economic conditions, which in turn exacerbate mental health struggles.
Marc’s story highlights the urgent need for coordinated global action to address mental health. While governments and international organizations have begun to prioritize this issue, much remains to be done.
An effective strategy must include:
- Investment in primary mental healthcare systems. This involves training general practitioners to diagnose and treat mental health issues, especially in vulnerable communities.
- Prevention programs. Initiatives in schools, workplaces, and communities can help reduce stigma and promote emotional well-being.
- Equitable access. Care must be affordable and accessible regardless of income level.
- Psychosocial support for severe cases. People like Marc need support networks that include palliative care, emotional counseling, and financial aid to reduce the burden.
Mental health is not a luxury or a secondary issue; it is fundamental to quality of life and personal development. In a world continually facing crises — from pandemics to economic downturns — addressing this dimension will be key to building a healthier and more resilient future.
When we arrived at my destination, I thanked Marc for sharing his story. He reminded me that behind the statistics and studies are real people: entrepreneurs, dreamers, fighters, and more. Marc’s legacy won’t just be his passion for Mediterranean cuisine — a dream I hope he can pursue — but also the call to action his story represents.
With his courage and honesty, Marc reminded me that change begins simply by listening. I said goodbye with a big hug. We are all Marc.
EDUCATIONAL PILLS:
International Master in Medical Affairs. Program part of the educational offerings of the BioTech and Pharma School. In Memoriam César Nombela. Certified by the Catholic University of Ávila. Information
Advanced Management Program. IE Business School. Executive Development Programs. Information
READING PILLS:
Hospital nurse and doctor turnover and patient outcomes: a retrospective longitudinal study on English NHS acute hospitals. University of Surrey
Digital transformation handbook for primary health care. WHO
Introducing CHEERS-AI: improving health economic evaluation reporting for AI technologies NICE
Societal Preferences in Health Technology Assessments for Rare Diseases and Orphan Drugs: A Systematic Literature Review of New Analytic Approaches. ISPOR
DeepMind opens AlphaFold 3 to researchers worldwide
Google DeepMind just open-sourced its groundbreaking AlphaFold 3 protein prediction model, enabling academic researchers to access both code and training weights for the first time since its limited release in May. The Rundown
AI-powered tool may offer quick, no-contact blood pressure and diabetes screening. Heart.org
STARTUP PILLS:
Investment oportunitties: Capital Cell
Neko Data Story: Year One
PODCAST PILLS:
Instant Pitch Deck Killers. Startup Istanbul
EVENTS PILLS:
PREPARE Webinar. Learnings and recommendations for demand-driven and procurement of innovation regional policies. Registry
“S” Stands for Systematic: Demystifying the Systematic Literature Review. hursday, December 5, 2024 11:00 am ET | 5:00 pm CET Registry