Violence and Mental Disorders

It is estimated that child abuse alone in the United States costs $94 billion per year or 1 % of the GDP.9 On average, a single murder costs US$ 15 000 in South Africa, US$602 000 in Australia, and more than US$2 000 000 in the United States.9 In England and Wales, interpersonal violence, including homicide sexual assaults and injuries, costs an estimated US$40.2 billion annually.9 The enormous economic cost of arresting, trying, and imprisoning violent offenders as well as providing bom physical and psychiatric care to the perpetrators and the victims of violence is a staggering economic cost to most countries in the world.