The High Cost of Schizophrenia The disease we all pay for… The Individuals Burden Job Loss Indigence Lifelong Disability Loss of Friends Loss of Future   The Family’s Burden Social Costs Emotional Stress Family Care giving Family Resources Medical Costs   The Taxpayers Burden Disability Healthcare Long-Term Care Homelessness Incarceration   Schizophrenia Numbers… About 2.5 million Americans suffer from schizophrenia, but this 1% of the US population accounts for 2.5% of all healthcare costs and from 22% to 44% of all mental illness costs. Researchers estimate schizophrenia’s total burden on the US economy at between $32.5 and $65 billion. Only 15% of people with schizophrenia have jobs. State and local governments pay the largest share (40%0 of the nearly $20 billion in direct costs for the treatment of schizophrenia More than 50% of the long term state and county mental hospital beds are occupied by persons with schizophrenia. Source: The National Foundation for Brain Research WebMaster