Poverty and mental illness

Poverty and mental health

A review to inform the Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s Anti-Poverty Strategy

“Poverty increases the risk of mental health problems and can be both a causal factor and a consequence of mental ill health. Mental health is shaped by the wide-ranging characteristics (including inequalities) of the social, economic and physical environments in which people live. Successfully supporting the mental health and wellbeing of people living in poverty, and reducing the number of people with mental health problems experiencing poverty, require engagement with this complexity. […]

Although mental health problems can affect anyone at any time, they are not equally distributed and prevalence varies across social groups.”

Although this policy review is based on UK data it is relevant for everybody working in the mental health sector