How are the employed and unemployed affected by the economic crisis in Spain? Educational inequalities, life conditions and mental health in a context of high unemployment

Summary Background: The global crisis that began in 2007 has been the most prolonged economic recession since 1929. It has caused worldwide tangible costs in terms of cuts in employment and income, which have been widely recognised also as major social determinants of mental health (1, 2). The so-called “Great Recession” has disproportionately affected the most vulnerable part of society of the whole Eurozone (3). Across Europe, an increase in suicides and deaths rates due to mental and behavioural disorders was reported among those who lost their jobs, houses and economic activities as a consequence of the crisis.

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Mental health policy in Greece: Implications into practice in the era of economic crisis

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/s0924-9338(11)72246-5 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 26 (S2) ◽

pp. 539-539 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

I. Grammatikopoulos ◽

S. Koupidis ◽

E. Petelos ◽

P. Theodorakis

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Care ◽

Health Policy ◽

Mental Health Care ◽

Economic Crisis ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Care Delivery ◽

Mental Health Policy ◽

Regional Distribution ◽

Health Care Facilities

IntroductionBudgets allocated for mental health make up a relatively small proportion of total health expenditures, although there is an increasing burden of mental disorders.ObjectivesTo review the mental health situation in Greece with regards to mental health policy through review of relevant literature.AimsTo explore the basic implications of the economic crisis from a health policy perspective, reporting constraints and opportunities.MethodsA narrative review in PubMed/Medline along with a hand search in selected Greek biomedical journals was undertaken, relevant to mental health policy.ResultsGreece is among the OECD countries with high health expenditure as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (9.7% of GDP in 2008) but it doesn’t have a specified budget for mental health and is mostly depended in out-of-pocket expenditure (48%). The system is plagued by problems, including geographical inequalities, overcentralization, bureaucratic management and poor incentives in the public sector. The lack of cost-effectiveness and the informal payments comprise a major source of inequity and inefficiency. Uneven regional distribution of psychiatrists exists and rural areas are mostly uncovered by mental health care facilities, as well as extramural mental health units and rehabilitation places, despite the current reorganization of the whole mental health care delivery system.ConclusionsThe core problem with mental health services in Greece is the shrinking budget with poor financial administration consistent with inadequate implementation of mental health policy. A clear authority with defined responsibility for overall mental health policy and budgetary matters is needed.

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The French Parti socialiste (2010-16): from office to crisis

Why the Left Loses ◽

10.1332/policypress/9781447332664.003.0011 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Sophie Di Francesco-Mayot

Keyword(s):

Financial Crisis ◽

Economic Crisis ◽

Global Financial Crisis ◽

Socialist Party ◽

Political Crisis ◽

Social Democratic ◽

High Unemployment ◽

Democratic Parties ◽

Social Democratic Parties ◽

The Eu

This chapter examines the French Socialist Party (Parti socialiste, PS), which is one of the least successful of the major European social democratic parties. It focuses on the period between the 2008 global financial crisis until the end of François Hollande's presidency in 2017. The crisis of the PS is twofold: first, a political crisis that is revealed by the divisive nature of the Party's internal courants (factions). Whereas the factions initially contributed to the PS's internal democracy, over the past two decades they have significantly affected the PS's cohesiveness and ability to effectively develop and implement necessary policies. And second, an economic crisis that is exemplified by the PS's inability to adapt to its external and internal environments, such as the neoliberal imperatives of the EU, unprecedented high unemployment, and increasing insecurity.

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The mental health consequences of the economic crisis in Europe among the employed, the unemployed, and the non-employed

Social Science Research ◽

10.1016/j.ssresearch.2015.08.003 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 54 ◽

pp. 263-288 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

Veerle Buffel ◽

Sarah Van de Velde ◽

Piet Bracke

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Economic Crisis ◽

Health Consequences ◽

The Unemployed

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The Effect on Mental Health of Retiring During the Economic Crisis

SSRN Electronic Journal ◽

10.2139/ssrn.2707058 ◽

2015 ◽

Author(s):

Michele Belloni ◽

Elena Meschi ◽

Giacomo Pasini

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Economic Crisis

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The impact of the economic crisis on the mental health of Portuguese primary-school children

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckz186.583 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽

Author(s):

D Costa ◽

M Cunha ◽

C Ferreira ◽

A Gama ◽

A M N Rodrigues ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Financial Crisis ◽

Primary School ◽

Economic Crisis ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Public Health Programs ◽

School Aged Children ◽

Related Quality ◽

Health Related ◽

The Impact

Abstract Objective To measure the impact of the economic crisis on the mental health correlates of Portuguese children attending primary school during 2016. Methods Cross-sectional analysis of primary school-aged children and their parents (n = 1157), conducted in public and private schools of three Portuguese districts. Parent reports of children mental health symptoms (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire - SDQ) and children self-reports of health-related quality of life (KIDSCREEN-27) and depressive, anxiety and stress symptoms (Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales, Children version - DASS-C), were compared according to a set of yes/no questions on how the economic crisis changed the normal aspects of routine life (e.g. During the financial crisis did you had to use savings? Started buying cheaper food?). Linear regression models were fitted for the SDQ, the KIDSCREEN-27 and the DASS-C as dependent variables adjusted for children sex, socioeconomic status and district of residence. Results Affirmative answers to the crisis impact questions were associated with more frequent psychosocial functioning problems in children, with poorer self-reported health-related quality of life and with more frequent symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress. Conclusions Portuguese children mental health correlates show significant worse scores for those whose parents declared having to change daily routine habits as a result of the recent macroeconomic financial crisis, compared to those who did not change habits. Public Health programs should be developed to mitigate the potential negative impact of the financial crisis to the mental health of children. Key messages A negative impact on children mental health was observed as a result of the economic crisis. Public health programs designed to mitigate the impact of the economic crisis should include primary-school aged children.

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