The true cost of the economic crisis on psychological well-being: a review (original) (raw)
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The Impact of Economic Crises on the Risk of Depression and Suicide: A Literature Review
The Impact of Economic Crises on the Risk of Depression and Suicide: A Literature Review, 2009
The aim of this review is to present current knowledge on impact of economic crisis on risk of depression and suicide, and actions that could be implemented to reduce the impact. This review is based on a literature search performed in November 2009. The following databases were searched: Cinahl, Medline, SocINDEX, and CSA Social Services Abstracts. Identified reports were included in this review based on relevance for European mental health policy and scientific quality.
Actions to alleviate the mental health impact of the economic crisis
World Psychiatry, 2012
"The current global economic crisis is expected to produce adverse mental health effects that may increase suicide and alcohol-related death rates in affected countries. In nations with greater social safety nets, the health impacts of the economic downturn may be less pronounced. Research indicates that the mental health impact of the economic crisis can be offset by various policy measures.This paper aims to outline how countries can safeguard and support mental health in times of economic downturn. It indicates that good mental health cannot be achieved by the health sector alone. The determinants of mental health often lie outside of the remits of the health system, and all sectors of society have to be involved in the promotion of mental health. Accessible and responsive primary care services support people at risk and can prevent mental health consequences. Any austerity measures imposed on mental health services need to be geared to support the modernization of mental health care provision. Social welfare supports and active labour market programmes aiming at helping people retain or re-gain jobs can counteract the mental health effects of the economic crisis. Family support programmes can also make a difference. Alcohol pricing and restrictions of alcohol availability reduce alcohol harms and save lives. Support to tackle unmanageable debt will also help to reduce the mental health impact of the crisis. While the current economic crisis may have a major impact on mental health and increase mortality due to suicides and alcohol-related disorders, it is also a window of opportunity to reform mental health care and promote a mentally healthy lifestyle."
Impact of economic crises on mental health
Impact of economic crises on mental health, 2011
The economic crisis is expected to produce secondary mental health effects that may increase suicide and alcohol death rates. However, the mental health effects of the economic crisis can be offset by social welfare and other policy measures. For example, active labour market programmes aimed at helping people retain or regain jobs counteract the mental health effects of the economic crisis. Family support programmes contribute to counteracting the mental health effects of the crisis. Increasing alcohol prices and restricting alcohol availability reduce the harmful effects on mental health and save lives. Debt relief programmes will help to reduce the mental health effects of the economic crisis and accessible and responsive primary care services support people at risk and prevent mental health effects.
Stressful life experience are one of the causative factors in suicide among men between the ages of 35 and 55. The financial crisis in Portugal, Italy, Ireland Greece and Spain has shown a pattern of contraction in GDP followed by rising unemployment numbers. Financial crisis represents a crash of the financial system and a collapse of the prices of assets including bankruptcy of a bank or other financial institutions which enables people and companies to obtain credit in order to pay their obligations. A descriptive multiple-case study design in established a deeper understanding of the impact of the prevalence of suicide during the financial crisis shows a correlation between increased suicides recorded by the world Health Organization and rising unemployment in these countries. Suggestions to negate increased suicides include free and easily accessible financial support and advice lines, national mental health services should train and implement support services to assist families who have been impacted policy makers consider positive psychology and resilience campaigns with a progressive message during financial crises.
Society and Economy, 2019
Can socioeconomic fl uctuations explain variations in European Union suicide mortality? To answer this question, we investigate the effect of socioeconomic and demographic factors on (agespecifi c) male and female suicide rates using a fi xed-effects technique and panel data for 15 EU countries, over a time period that leads up to, coincides with, and follows the recession of 2008. The fi ndings show that suicide rates for young and working-age populations are more sensitive to general economic conditions than suicide rates for other age groups, and that male suicide behavior is more responsive than female behavior. In this setting, suicide rates are likely to be higher in countries with lower income, higher unemployment, higher divorce rates, and, most importantly, weaker systems of social protection. Our results, however, raise serious doubts about government involvement in crisis-related mental illness prevention and mental health promotion.
Mental health impact of the economic crisis in Spain
2013
According to preliminary data, by 2010 the economic crisis in Spain had already led to an increase in the prevalence of anxiety, mood disorders and alcohol misuse, identified in primary care settings, but there had not been an impact on suicide rates. Since then, several indicators suggest that the full impact of the economic crisis on mental health was delayed, until at least the second half of 2011 and even later, to 2012. There is increasing evidence that budget cuts had a particular impact on mental healthcare during this latter period.
Economic crises and suicides between 1970 and 2011: time trend study in 21 developed countries
Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 2019
BackgroundExisting research on the relationship between economic recessions and suicides has almost completely concentrated on the most recent global financial crisis (2008). We provide the most comprehensive explanation to date of how different types of economic/financial crises since 1970 have affected suicides in developed countries.MethodsNegative binomial regressions were used to estimate what the suicide rates would have been during and 1 year after each crisis began in 21 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries from 1970 to 2011 if the suicide rates had followed the pre-crisis trends.ResultsWe found that every economic/financial crisis since 1970, except the European Exchange Rate Mechanism crisis in 1992, led to excess suicides in developed countries. Among males, the excess suicide rate (per 100 000 persons) varied from 1.1 (95% CI 0.7 to 1.5) to 9.5 (7.6 to 11.2) and, among females, from 0 to 2.4 (1.9 to 2.9). For both sexes, suicides increased mos...