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Economic downturns and population mental health: research findings, gaps, challenges and priorities

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 September 2010

K. Zivin ,
M. Paczkowski  and
S. Galea
K. Zivin*
Affiliation:
Department of Veterans Affairs, Health Services Research and Development (HSR&D) Center of Excellence, Serious Mental Illness Treatment Research and Evaluation Center (SMITREC), Ann Arbor, MI, USA Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA University of Michigan Depression Center, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
M. Paczkowski
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
S. Galea
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
*
*Address for correspondence: K. Zivin, Ph.D., Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Rachel Upjohn Building, 4250 Plymouth Road, Box 5765, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. (Email: kzivin@umich.edu)
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Abstract

Prior research suggests that the current global economic crisis may be negatively affecting population mental health. In that context, this paper has several goals: (1) to discuss theoretical and conceptual explanations for how and why economic downturns might negatively affect population mental health; (2) present an overview of the literature on the relationship between economic recessions and population mental health; (3) discuss the limitations of existing empirical work; and (4) highlight opportunities for improvements in both research and practice designed to mitigate any negative impact of economic declines on the mental health of populations. Research has consistently demonstrated that economic crises are negatively associated with population mental health. How economic downturns influence mental health should be considered in policies such as social protection programs that aim to promote recovery.

Keywords

Depressioneconomic downturneconomic recessionmental health
Type
Review Article
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 41 , Issue 7 , July 2011 , pp. 1343 - 1348
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

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