Economic downturns and population mental health: research findings, gaps, challenges and priorities

Zivin, Kara; Paczkowski, Magdalena; Galea, Sandro

doi:10.1017/s003329171000173x

Cited by 133 publications

(113 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…Recently, they found that increases in suicide rates have been observed across European countries following the onset of the current recession 23. Consistent increases in male suicide rates have been noted in many other studies 24. The relationships between morbidity in mental health, health inequalities and recessions are less well understood and findings differ between studies 7 25.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Trends in population mental health before and after the 2008 recession: a repeat cross-sectional analysis of the 1991–2010 Health Surveys of England

2012

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ObjectiveTo assess short-term differences in population mental health before and after the 2008 recession and explore how and why these changes differ by gender, age and socio-economic position.DesignRepeat cross-sectional analysis of survey data.SettingEngland.ParticipantsRepresentative samples of the working age (25–64 years) general population participating in the Health Survey for England between 1991 and 2010 inclusive.Main outcome measuresPrevalence of poor mental health (caseness) as measured by the general health questionnaire-12 (GHQ).ResultsAge–sex standardised prevalence of GHQ caseness increased from 13.7% (95% CI 12.9% to 14.5%) in 2008 to 16.4% (95% CI 14.9% to 17.9%) in 2009 and 15.5% (95% CI 14.4% to 16.7%) in 2010. Women had a consistently greater prevalence since 1991 until the current recession. However, compared to 2008, men experienced an increase in age-adjusted caseness of 5.1% (95% CI 2.6% to 7.6%, p<0.001) in 2009 and 3% (95% CI 1.2% to 4.9%, p=0.001) in 2010, while no statistically significant changes were seen in women. Adjustment for differences in employment status and education level did not account for the observed increase in men nor did they explain the differential gender patterning. Over the last decade, socio-economic inequalities showed a tendency to increase but no clear evidence for an increase in inequalities associated with the recession was found. Similarly, no evidence was found for a differential effect between age groups.ConclusionsPopulation mental health in men has deteriorated within 2 years of the onset of the current recession. These changes, and their patterning by gender, could not be accounted for by differences in employment status. Further work is needed to monitor recessionary impacts on health inequalities in response to ongoing labour market and social policy changes.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Trends in population mental health before and after the 2008 recession: a repeat cross-sectional analysis of the 1991–2010 Health Surveys of England

2012

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“…There are good grounds for thinking that this may be so, including consistent evidence that those who become unemployed during a recession may have worse mental health than those who do not [2]. Some studies have documented the direct effect of the economic recession on the general population’s mental health by comparing outcomes before and after the onset of the crisis [3–6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is recession bad for your mental health? The answer could be complex: evidence from the 2008 crisis in Spain

Vasallo

Pereyra-Zamora

Tamayo-Fonseca

et al. 2018

BMC Med Res Methodol

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BackgroundWe explored the impact of 2008 recession on the prevalence of mental health problems in Spain.MethodsRepeated cross-sectional survey design. Datasets from 2006 and 2011 were used, and temporal change was examined. The study was conducted on the economically active population (16–64 years old). The two surveys included 29,478 and 21,007 people, obtaining a 96 and 89.6% response rate, respectively.Multiple logistic regression models were adjusted to identify poor mental health risk factors. A standardisation analysis was performed to estimate the prevalence of people at risk of poor mental health (GHQ+).ResultsThe prevalence of GHQ+ following the crisis increased in men and decreased in women. Two logistic regression analyses identified GHQ+ risk factors. From 2006 to 2011, unemployment rose and income fell for both men and women, and there was a decline in the prevalence of somatic illness and limitations, factors associated with a higher prevalence of GHQ+. After controlling for age, the change in employment and income among men prompted an increase in the prevalence of GHQ+, while the change in somatic illness and limitations tended to mitigate this effect. After the recession, unemployed men showed a better level of somatic health. The same effects were not detected in women.ConclusionsThe economic recession exerted a complex effect on mental health problems in men. The reduction of prevalence in women was not associated with changes in socioeconomic factors related to the economic crisis nor with changes in somatic health.

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“…Since the onset of the global recession of 2008, several studies have suggested that it had, and continues to have, a negative impact in the population's mental health (Avcin et al, 2011;Meltzer et al, 2010;Uutela, 2010;Zivin et al, 2011). However, and although it is known that individuals with psychiatric diseases represent a particularly high risk group (Giotakos, 2010), data on previously remitted Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) patients are not available.…”

Section: To the Editormentioning

confidence: 99%

Financial crisis increases the risk of depression relapse

Mota-Pereira

2015

Journal of Psychiatric Research

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Economic downturns and population mental health: research findings, gaps, challenges and priorities

Cited by 133 publications

References 52 publications

Trends in population mental health before and after the 2008 recession: a repeat cross-sectional analysis of the 1991–2010 Health Surveys of England

Trends in population mental health before and after the 2008 recession: a repeat cross-sectional analysis of the 1991–2010 Health Surveys of England

Is recession bad for your mental health? The answer could be complex: evidence from the 2008 crisis in Spain

Financial crisis increases the risk of depression relapse

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