Mental health articles

poverty and mental health issues Poverty and mental health
Poverty is linked to poor mental health. This should not be
surprising, since there are many stresses associated with being
poor. Some of the factors that may lead to mental illness in a
person living in deprived circumstances are:
• Urban migration and disintegration of rural communities. People who have migrated to urban areas often live in slums, with few social networks. For those left behind, usually women,
children and the elderly, the loss of a productive member of
the household may lead to loneliness.
• Material stressors. The poor have fewer material resources and are more likely to suffer the physical hardships associated with poverty. Thus, access to clean water, food and banking credit are restricted.
• Squalid and unhygienic living conditions. Living in such environments leads to stress and unhappiness.
• Lack of education and employment opportunities. The poor have less access to affordable, quality education and, subsequently, to employment. The lack of education limits the ability of the
person to find a way out of poverty, which leads to a loss of hope and despair for the future.
• Inadequate access to good health care. The poor have less access to appropriate health care. Thus, poor people with mental illness are less likely to receive the right treatment.
• Higher burden of physical ill health. The poor suffer a greater burden of physical disease. Mental illness occurs more often in those who suffer a physical disease.
Mental illness, in turn, can worsen a person’s economic circumstances in a number of ways:
• Mental disorders affect the ability of a person to function at work (as well as at home).
• Owing to the inappropriate treatment of mental disorders, many people seek multiple sources of health care and, consequently, spend more money on their health.
• Increased expenditure on sustaining a habit such as alcohol or drug dependence can impoverish addicts and their families.
• The stigma associated with mental illness limits opportunities for employment.
• Some mental disorders, such as substance misuse, learning disabilities and schizophrenia, affect the ability of the person to complete their education and, therefore, limit the economic opportunities available in the future.
poverty and mental health issues Thus, people living in poverty are more likely to suffer mental illness, and mental illness is more likely to worsen poverty. Across the world, especially in poor countries, globalisation and economic reform are leading to enormous changes in daily life. These policies are influencing the health prospects of every citizen in a number of different ways. The cost of health care is getting higher as government subsidies are withdrawn. User fees mean that public health care is no longer free and private health care is getting more expensive all the time. Medicines are getting more expensive. New international laws that govern the way medicines are manufactured and sold in the world will mean a rise in the cost of most new medicines. But perhaps the greatest risk posed by economic reforms to health is that it is worsening inequalities within every community.
poverty and mental health issues  The richest few in every society are getting much richer, while the poor majority get poorer. This inequality poses a grave challenge for the future harmony of our societies and the health of the millions who belong to the less well-off sections.

Tags: Health, mental, Mental health, poverty