Litcius/Paper detail

The cost of living crisis is harming mental health, partly because of previous cuts to social security

Kate Andersen, Aaron Reeves

2022BMJ21 citationsDOIOpen Access PDF

Abstract

The cost of living crisis is harming mental health, partly because of previous cuts to social security As the government announces measures to help the cost of living crisis, Kate Andersen and Aaron Reeves discuss the impact of financial insecurity on people's mental health Kate Andersen, 1 Aaron Reeves 2The surge in prices over recent months has created a cost of living crisis that is exacerbating insecurity and harming people's mental health.The Food Foundation warned recently that more than two million adults in the UK have gone without food for a day because of the rising cost of living.This is not inevitable.Yes, when prices rise faster than earnings, this puts additional financial and emotional strain on households.But in contexts where social security is more generous, this strain is minimised.Indeed, in some places, this strain has been entirely removed.

Topics & Concepts

Mental healthSocial securityPsychologyPolitical scienceEconomicsPsychiatryLawGlobal Health Care IssuesEmployment and Welfare Studies