Poverty and Poor Mental Health - Lacey Hastings, Student RPN



Poverty and Poor Mental HealthLacey HastingsStenberg CollegeSociologyDebbie McreedyPoverty and Poor Mental HealthThe relationship between social class and mental health is evident, and has been the cause for much speculation. There are many interpretations and explanations on this relationship, especially the relationship between social inequality and poor mental health. As many believe social class is a “predictable correlate of mental ill health” (Rogers & Pilgrim, 2010, p.51). The writer believes poverty and social inequality are directly connected with poor mental health, and will prove this by reviewing the literature.Poverty is more than just low income, poverty is an inequality, it is truggling with the basic necessities of life, and can extend to many areas of one’s life, including lack of or exclusion from “meaningful employment and decent earnings, adequate and affordable housing, safe neighborhoods with public amenities, health and well-being, social networks, and basic human rights” (Policy Research Initiative; as cited in CMHA, 2007). Poverty is distressing and alienating, those who are poverty stricken are suffering, and the World Health Organization suggests poverty is the greatest cause of suffering on earth (cited in Murali & Oyebode, 2004). Individuals below the ‘poverty line’ are struggling, and their struggle effects their physical, mental and social health and wellbeing (Murali & Oyebode, 2004).This is not to say that money is a guarantor of mental health or that low income inevitably leads to mental illness, but that poverty is a determinant of poor mental health (Murali & Oyebode, 2004; World Health Organization, 2010). With poverty comes many challenges, lack of opportunities, limited resources, and more exposure to difficult events (Kuruvilla & Jacob, 2007). When one has higher income, they more than likely have all their basic necessities, adequate housing, live in safer communities, have the food and water they need, have opportunities, and access to adequate health care, and have what they need to live higher quality life’s. However with the ‘poor’, they face many obstacles, obstacles impacting their quality of life. When one doesn’t have adequate housing, doesn’t have money for food and water, lives in a dangerous environment, has limited access and opportunities, is isolated from information and supports, and struggles with the necessities of day to day life, they face serious threats to their health and wellbeing (Murali & Oyebode, 2004). Those in poverty often have high stress within their locations, associated with crime, dangerous environments and poor home conditions, they experience poorer diet and physical health due to material deprivation, they are more vulnerable to unemployment and when they work they often have stressful, unrewarding and depersonalizing work, with limited resources there is reduced opportunity for education and they are more vulnerable to loss of their sense of self (Murali & Oyebode, 2004; Rogers & Pilgrim, 2010).Thus it is evident that those of lower socio economic class, as a result of their life circumstances are “exposed to more stressors and with fewer resources to manage them and greater vulnerability to stressors” and thus are doubly victimized (Murali & Ovebode, 2004). Along with these stressors, the ‘poor’, face “stigma, social isolation, exclusion and the shame and humiliation of poverty” (Kuruvilla & Jacob, 2007). These stressors and this inequality and exclusion can be manifested in many ways, such as negative emotional states of low mood and sadness, frustration or discontent; and higher levels of hopelessness, fatalism, a lack of control over and lower levels of satisfaction with life (Kurvilla & Jacob, 2007). Thus with this material and social deprivation ones quality of life can be compromised and this in turn has an impact on mental health(CMHA, 2007). A research study done over 12 years by Statistics Canada on the relationship between low income and poor mental health, shows that Low-income respondents were at a significantly higher risk of becoming psychologically distressed, and that this distress is accounted for by the higher prevalence of stressors in the lives of lower-income individuals (Statistics Canada, 2009). Thus the researchers determined that poverty is a critical risk factor for becoming psychologically distressed (Orpana, Lemyre and Gravel, 2009; Statistics Canada). Another research study done in 2013, published in the Health Science Journal, found that a large number of studies indicate a strong correlation between unemployment or low income level and increased mortality rates, suicide tendencies, drug addiction and mental disorders (Notara, Koulouridis, Violatzis, & Vagka , 2013). Also noting how several studies indicate that those who are unemployed or lost a job, suffered more from symptoms of somatization, depression, anxiety and they were more likely to visit their physicians and take more medication (Notara, Koulouridis, Violatzis, & Vagka, 2013). In understanding this relationship between poverty and mental health we can better address poverty in order to promote mental health (CMHA, 2007), we can better understand psychiatric illness and distress when we understand its relation to social class (Murali & Ovebode, 2004). In understanding this relationship, appropriate steps can be taken with social and public health policies, which incorporate this critical health determinant, for instance policies that have aimed at reducing unemployment, and minimizing income and wealth inequality, have showed evidence of improved population health ((Notara, Koulouridis, Violatzis, & Vagka, 2013). With the understanding and recognition of this connection , more hope and attention can be brought to Canadians living below the poverty line, a hope for their mental health.It is evident through research studies and across the literature that poverty and poor mental health are connected, that those of lower social class have more stressors and are at higher risk of psychological distress, that they experience more challenges and difficulties, and have less opportunities and resources. It is evident that their quality of life is impacted, and it is evident that this has detrimental effects on mental health. With this connection being made throughout literature, this brings hope to Canadians that more action will be taken in addressing poverty, and in turn the mental health of millions of Canadians. ReferencesCanadian Mental Health Association. (CMHA). (2007). Poverty and Mental Illness. Retrieved from: , A., & Jacob, K. S. (2007). Poverty, social stress & mental health. Indian Journal of Medical Research, 126(4), 273. Retrieved from: , V., & Oyebode, F. (2004). Poverty, social inequality and mental health. Advances in psychiatric treatment, 10(3), 216-224. Retrieved from: , V., Koulouridis, K., Violatzis, A., & Vagka, E. (2013). Economic crisis and health. The role of health care professionals. Health Science Journal, 7(2), 149-154. Retrieved from: , A., Pilgrim, D. (2010). A sociology of mental health and illness. (4th ed.). England, UK: Open University PressStatistics Canada. (2009). Income and psychological distress: The role of the social environment. Health Reports. Vol.20 No.1. Retrieved from: Health Organization. (WHO). (2010). Mental health: strengthening our response. Factsheets. Retrieved from: ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download