Between therapies, food supplements and “well-being” products, taking care of your mental health can quickly become a luxury. How much does a damaged brain cost each year?
In France, mental health has become a financial position in its own right. A study published by Bustle magazine shows that Americans can spend up to $20,000 per year (or 17,400 euros) on their mental health. Adapting this calculation to the French context – despite our social protection – reveals an equally dizzying bill.
The first instinct when the brain “overloads” is to seek professional help, but the price varies enormously depending on the path chosen. In France, you can access free consultations in Medical-Psychological Centers (CMP), but waiting times are often several months. For rapid support, many turn to the liberal sector: with the “Mon Soutien Psy” system, around ten sessions can be reimbursed each year. However, for specialized or intensive off-course monitoring, a session costs on average between 60 and 100 euros. At the rate of one session with the psychiatrist every 15 days at 75 euros, we quickly reach 1,800 euros per year.
Beyond medical appointments, a bad brain generates a multitude of micro-expenses to “keep going”. This is where the stress management market comes into play: food supplements to help you get back to sleep (melatonin, magnesium, etc.), CBD oils, or even subscriptions to meditation applications. We often add physical “repair” expenses, such as sophrology or massages, which for some have become necessary to lower cortisol levels that are too high. Added together, these small daily purchases and this supportive care represent a budget which can vary between 50 and 150 euros per month, or the price of a small consumer loan dedicated solely to emotional survival.
The real money pit in mental health is not always what you spend, but what you lose. A suffering brain loses efficiency, which can lead to burnout and sick leave. If Social Security covers part of the salary, the loss of bonuses and the drop in income directly impact the standard of living. A study (Asterès/MGEN, 2025) estimates that for a worker suffering from a psychiatric pathology, the average overall cost (including reimbursements for care and loss of productivity/income) amounts to around 7,800 euros per year.
Added to this are the products that we buy to console ourselves (fast food, impulsive purchases on the internet) because we no longer have the mental energy to cook or manage our finances. If we add up these different levers, the total bill for an individual can reach 12,600 euros per year. It is the price of a small used car or a real estate contribution that evaporates in the management of a psychological crisis.
To avoid letting your mental health drain your bank account, two reflexes can make the difference. First, check now if your mutual insurance company offers an “alternative medicine package” (often 100 to 200 euros/year) which covers sophrology or osteopathy and favor psychologists approved by “Mon Soutien Psy” to avoid advance costs. Finally, before giving in to the marketing of expensive supplements or technological gadgets, remember that walking in nature and community support groups are scientifically validated and completely free cortisol regulation tools.
