title: The true cost of the economic crisis on psychological well-being: a review.
abstract: The recent economic crisis has led to many negative consequences, not the least having to do with the mental health and well-being of the populations involved. Although some researchers say it is still too early to speak about a relationship between the economic crisis and a rise in mental health problems resulting in suicides, there is solid evidence for the existence of such a relationship. However, several moderating or mediating mechanisms can also play a role. The main reactions of most policy makers to the economic crisis are (severe) austerity measures. These measures seem to have, however, a detrimental effect on the mental health of the population: Just when people have the highest need for mental help, cost-cutting measures in the health care sector lead to a (substantial) drop in the supply of services for the prevention, early detection, and cure of mental health problems. Policy makers should support moderating mechanisms such as financial and psychological coping and acculturation and the role of primary health care workers in the early detection of suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts, and suicide in times of economic recession. Several examples show that the countries best off regarding the mental health of their populations during the economic crisis are those countries with the strongest social safety net. Therefore, instead of cutting back on health care and social welfare measures, policy makers should in the future invest even more in social protection measures during economic crises.
authors: Medical Sociology and Health Policy, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors: Guido
authors: G
authors: Van Hal
keywords: austerity; economic recession; mental health; review; social protection; suicide
references: Eur J Public Health. 2014 Jun;24(3):410-5
references: 24058184
references: Lancet. 2014 Feb 22;383(9918):748-53
references: 24560058
references: Eur J Public Health. 2014 Apr;24(2):183-4
references: 24424582
references: BMJ. 2013 Sep 17;347:f5239
references: 24046155
references: J Affect Disord. 2013 Mar 5;145(3):308-14
references: 22939388
references: Lancet. 2001 Mar 24;357(9260):917-21
references: 11289348
references: J Epidemiol Community Health. 2013 Apr;67(4):379-80
references: 23213113
references: Acta Psychiatr Scand. 1996 May;93(5):327-38
references: 8792901
references: Eur J Public Health. 2014 Jun;24(3):399-403
references: 24709510
references: BMJ. 2012 Nov 27;345:e7988
references: 23187095
references: Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2000 Feb;34(1):98-106
references: 11185952
references: Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2002 Aug;37(8):351-6
references: 12195541
references: Lancet. 2013 Apr 13;381(9874):1323-31
references: 23541059
references: Soc Sci Med. 1982;16(22):1919-27
references: 7157025
references: Lancet. 1997 Aug 9;350(9075):383-8
references: 9259651
references: Lancet. 2011 Oct 22;378(9801):1457-8
references: 21988763
references: Lancet. 2012 Mar 17;379(9820):1001-2; author reply 1002
references: 22423878
references: Lancet. 2014 May 3;383(9928):1545-6
references: 24792851
references: Br J Psychiatry. 2004 Nov;185:385-93
references: 15516546
references: Lancet. 2002 Oct 5;360(9339):1083-8
references: 12384003
references: Lancet. 2013 Mar 2;381(9868):722
references: 23472912
references: Soc Sci Med. 2006 Apr;62(8):2061-71
references: 16203075
references: Lancet. 2012 Jul 28;380(9839):337; author reply 337-8
references: 22841332
references: Lancet. 2013 Dec 14;382(9909):1977-8
references: 24332073
references: Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2001 Dec;36(12):590-4
references: 11838830
references: Neuropsychiatr. 2011;25(3):113-7
references: 21968374
references: Eur J Public Health. 2014 Jun;24(3):415-8
references: 24367067
references: Soc Sci Med. 2008 Dec;67(12):2051-8
references: 18977577
references: Eur J Public Health. 2012 Feb;22(1):4-5
references: 22199160
references: Eur J Public Health. 2013 Feb;23(1):103-8
references: 23132877
references: Lancet. 2012 Nov 24;380(9856):1813-4
references: 23141814
references: Br J Gen Pract. 2013 Oct;63(615):e691-7
references: 24152484
references: Scand J Public Health. 2000 Mar;28(1):54-61
references: 10817315
references: Int J Clin Pract. 2009 Aug;63(8):1128-35
references: 19624782
references: Lancet. 2009 Jul 25;374(9686):315-23
references: 19589588
references: BMJ. 2003 Oct 25;327(7421):964
references: 14576248
references: Br J Psychiatry. 1974 May;124(0):460-9
references: 4836376
references: Eur J Public Health. 2014 Apr;24(2):183
references: 24192399
references: Eur J Public Health. 2014 Jun;24(3):404-9
references: 24632339
references: J Epidemiol Community Health. 2013 Apr;67(4):298
references: 23322855
references: Soc Sci Med. 2009 Apr;68(7):1322-31
references: 19200631
references: BMJ. 2012 Apr 20;344:e2887
references: 22522709
references: J Clin Psychiatry. 2010 Dec;71(12):1617-28
references: 20816034
references: Psychol Med. 1999 Jan;29(1):9-17
references: 10077289
references: Eur J Public Health. 2013 Oct;23(5):732-6
references: 23804080
references: PLoS One. 2013 Jul 26;8(7):e69792
references: 23922801
references: JAMA. 1998 Mar 11;279(10):793-800
references: 9508159
references: Lancet. 2011 Jul 9;378(9786):124-5
references: 21742166
references: Lancet. 2013 Mar 2;381(9868):721-2
references: 23472911
references: Lancet. 2011 Oct 22;378(9801):1459
references: 22018009
references: J Epidemiol Community Health. 2013 Apr;67(4):378-9
references: 22859517
references: Eur J Public Health. 2014 Jun;24(3):419-21
references: 24248804
references: BMJ. 2012 Dec 21;345:e8602; author reply e8608
references: 23262574
references: Lancet. 2013 Mar 2;381(9868):722-3
references: 23472913
references: Am J Public Health. 2009 Oct;99(10):1818-25
references: 19696378
references: Psychol Med. 2008 Oct;38(10):1485-93
references: 18184442
references: Lancet. 2012 Mar 17;379(9820):1000; author reply 1002
references: 22423876
references: Cultur Divers Ethnic Minor Psychol. 2000 Feb;6(1):13-31
references: 10975164
references: J Nutr. 2003 Nov;133(11):3469-75
references: 14608060
references: Curr Opin Psychiatry. 2010 Mar;23(2):127-30
references: 20087188