title: Australia's economic transition, unemployment, suicide and mental health needs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There have been substantial changes in workforce and employment patterns in Australia over the past 50 years as a result of economic globalisation. This has resulted in substantial reduction in employment in the manufacturing industry often with large-scale job losses in concentrated sectors and communities. Large-scale job loss events receive significant community attention. To what extent these mass unemployment events contribute to increased psychological distress, mental illness and suicide in affected individuals warrants further consideration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Here we undertake a narrative review of published job loss literature. We discuss the impact that large-scale job loss events in the manufacturing sector may have on population mental health, with particular reference to contemporary trends in the Australian economy. We also provide a commentary on the expected outcomes of future job loss events in this context and the implications for Australian public mental health care services.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Job loss due to plant closure results in a doubling of psychological distress that peaks 9 months following the unemployment event. The link between job loss and increased rates of mental illness and suicide is less clear. The threat of impending job loss and the social context in which job loss occurs has a significant bearing on psychological outcomes. The implications for Australian public mental health services are discussed.
authors: 1 The Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
authors: Nicholas
authors: N
authors: Myles
authors: 2 School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.|3 Euroa Centre, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, NSW, Australia.
authors: Matthew
authors: M
authors: Large
authors: 4 Country Health SA, Mental Health, Adelaide, SA, Australia.|5 Discipline of Psychiatry, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
authors: Hannah
authors: H
authors: Myles
authors: 5 Discipline of Psychiatry, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia.|6 School of Medical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Adams
authors: 4 Country Health SA, Mental Health, Adelaide, SA, Australia.|7 Northern Adelaide Local Health Network, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
authors: Dennis
authors: D
authors: Liu
authors: 4 Country Health SA, Mental Health, Adelaide, SA, Australia.|7 Northern Adelaide Local Health Network, Adelaide, SA, Australia.|8 Ramsay Health Care (SA) Mental Health Services, Gilberton, SA, Australia.
authors: Cherrie
authors: C
authors: Galletly
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D004467:Economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008603:Mental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014478:Unemployment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: Suicide; plant closure; unemployment