ECONOMY INFLUENCE IN MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES

Economy Influence in Mental Health Issues

Economy Influence in Mental Health Issues

Introduction

While providing countless facilities and luxuries for life, the modern society is also a catalyst in developing a number of complications including mental health issues. Mental disorders are among the common problems which every individual encounters at least once in his/her life. These mental issues vary based on behavior, mood, altering thoughts associated with some noteworthy anguish happening because of the socioeconomic environment, the family or the individual himself. According to modern research, economic conditions play a significant role in stimulating mental illness. Since there are no proper measures of identifying the extent to which economic downturns affect individuals, now a days, clinical psychiatrists can be seen as a major source of knowing how much the economic crisis contributes in causing stress (Sundararaman, 2009).

According to a Berkeley based psychotherapist Don McKillop, these days most of the clients who come to seek advice have one thing in common and that is financial stress. He is not alone because, in a climate where economy changes on a daily basis, individuals tend to experience feeling of anger, emotional stress and anxiety. These feelings come as a consequence of financial stress and concern about how to survive in this highly recessive society. According to a Ruth Kalb who Corte Madera based, an emotional epidemic is spreading out, and panic is begetting panic.

Discussion

As indicated by a study conducted in the United States in October 2009, 83 percent of women and 78 percent of men are facing high levels of stress because of the instable economy and their concern regarding housing costs, job stability and fear of losing retirement savings. The concern about money is greater than health amongst women. The Baby Boomer generation is more concerned about financial stability and because of this economic concerns rose from 18 to 92 percent in a time span of just 5 months (Guthmann, 2009).

The effect of losing a job and economic worries are directly reflected in a person's behavior. After studying this mechanism for 30 years, Ralph Catalano, came up to the conclusion that psychiatric illness can be noticed in a person who have lost a job, which is also clinically significant. As a consequence, a person starts to have mental disorders such as, antisocial behavior, anxiety and depression. As a matter of fact, professional psychiatrists call it a collateral damage which is caused by the current economic condition.

It is not that only people belonging to the lower and the middle class are facing the consequences of economic recession, people from the upper class are also upset. Thus, from mechanics, to stay-at-home moms as well as the corporate executives are experiencing the feeling of anxiety as their all concerned about the financial stress this economic condition is bringing along with it.

Impact of Economic Crisis on Family Relations

As a result of the financial stress, the economic recession is causing in the minds of individuals around the country, family relations are affected in the largest ...