Europe: Mentally ill people 'hit hard by recession'

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-23463309

26 July 2013 Last updated at 19:32 ET
Mentally ill people 'hit hard by recession'

The economic recession across Europe has had a profound impact on people with mental health problems, research from King's College London suggests.

Between 2006 and 2010, the rate of unemployment for those with mental health problems rose twice as much as for other people - from 12.7% to 18.2%.

Men and those with low levels of education were particularly affected, the study said.

The authors warn that social exclusion could increase among the mentally ill...

[Giuseppe]

Re: Europe: Mentally ill people 'hit hard by recession'

This news does not come with surprise as health care expenditure - expecially in Southern EU Members States - has been drastically cut over the past couple of years.

Further, the same countries have a long history of social exclusion and stigma for mentally disabled people and - even in the MS with labor legislation in favor to disabled - entrepreneurs fail to hire because of prejudice or perceived risk of losing customers if they see 'unusual' people at desk.

The shrinking demand and skyrocketing of unemployment have made the rest: the first individuals to lay off are the less protected and frail, the disabled, the advanced age people, for example.

Universal health coverage is in fact suspended because the costs for accessing care is too high for individuals often living with less than 300US$ per month, and that rely almost completely on old parents.

A very grim situation.

But pursuing the austerity policies and dilapidating health infrastructures seem to be the priority for the policymakers of the old Europe. GM