The United Nations (U.N.) Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty presented a new report at the 79th session of the U.N. General Assembly. This report details how the issues caused by mental health and poverty feed into one another, creating a vicious cycle.

It finds that those on lower incomes are three times more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety and other mental illnesses. Although the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared mental health a basic human right, 11% of the world’s population suffers from a mental illness.

Poverty Increases the Risk of Mental Health Conditions

Poverty creates psychological distress and, therefore, causes mental illness. Economic insecurity, job insecurity or poor-quality jobs, unemployment and underemployment (that is, being forced to work part-time due to lack of full-time employment) and less access to green spaces are all conditions of poverty that are proven to create stress. People experiencing poverty are additionally less likely to contact psychiatric services.

Social stigmas and self-stigmas (a negative perception of oneself that lowers self-esteem) also make it harder for people with mental illnesses to get a job and housing and to form supportive social networks. Stigmas likely play a part in the unwillingness of public policymakers to invest in tackling mental health issues. 

Africa Institute of Mental and Brain Health

Based in Kenya, this organization provides affordable and accessible mental health services. Several of its current projects focus on tackling both mental illness and poverty. For example, the initiative’s HOPE project aims to improve the outcomes of those who are homeless and have severe mental health in Kenya, Ghana and Ethiopia.

Strong Minds

StrongMinds provides free, community-based therapy in low-income areas, with a primary focus on Africa, in its mission to radically expand mental health care for people with depression globally. It currently operates in four countries but has been in Uganda since 2013, providing therapy to women, children, refugees and incarcerated populations. About 16% of treated women report increased work attendance and 30% say their children are less absent from school.

WHO

Since 2014, the WHO has endorsed group interpersonal psychotherapy as a treatment for mental illness in vulnerable people in low-income regions. It has provided more than 160,000 women and children in Uganda and Zambia with group talk therapy. More than 80% of those treated were depression free after treatment and remained so for six months.

Final Remark

The report identifying the contributors to the cycle of poverty and mental health recommends more investment in mental health care. It also suggests the implementation of social protection schemes to support people in need. The charities carrying out this work are already seeing a massive difference. 

– Georgia de Gidlow

Georgia is based in Hertfordshire, UK and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project

Photo: Wikimedia Commons