A Qualitative Scoping Review of the Impacts of Economic Recessions on Mental Health: Implications for Practice and Policy

Abstract

In a follow-up to our 2021 scoping review of the quantitative literature on the impacts of economic recessions on mental health, this scoping review summarizes qualitative research to develop a descriptive understanding of the key factors that transmute the socioeconomic stressors of a recession into poorer mental health. The previous study identified 22 qualitative studies from 2008 to 2020, which were updated with search results from six databases for articles published between 2020 and 2021. After inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied to the total 335 identified studies, 13 articles were included. These were peer-reviewed, qualitative studies in developed economies, published from 2008 to 2021, and available online in English. Participants perceived that financial hardship and unemployment during recessions increased stress and led to feelings of shame, loss of structure and identity, and a perceived lack of control, which increased interpersonal conflict, social isolation, maladaptive coping, depression, self-harm, and suicidal behavior. Participants struggled with accessing health and social services and suggested reforms to improve the navigation and efficiency of services and to reduce the perceived harms of austerity measures. Providers should screen for mental distress and familiarize themselves with health and social resources in their community to help patients navigate these complex systems. Policy makers should be aware of the potential protective nature of unemployment safeguards and consider other low-cost measures to bolster mental health supports and informal social networks. Research in this area was limited. Further research would be beneficial given the impacts of the ongoing COVID-19 recession.

Healthcare Challenges due to Global Conflict Escalation Amid the Pandemic, Climate, and Economic Dilemmas

“…Medical care and health spending generally increase faster than general inflation (Goss, 2022). Also, rising inflation is associated with infant mortality rise (Bao et al, 2022); child and maternal health compromise (Cader & Perera, 2011); hospital labor expenses per patient (American Hospital Association, 2022); depression, anxiety, frustration and stress (Guerra et al, 2022); cost burdens of chronic illnesses (Jung et al, 2022); less access to assisted-living and independentliving facilities for the elderly population (Ansberry, 2022); low-income households to compromise food quality (Jimenez Rincon et al, 2022); decline insurance coverage (Chernew & Keenan, 2005); worsening clinical labor shortage, lack of potential educators and high turnover (Fleron et al, 2022); lack of clinically necessary pharmaceuticals and supplies, as well as the accessibility of insecticides necessary to control vector-borne disease (Claborn, 2020), are just a few examples of such problems (Figure 8). 5.…”

Mental suffering and the Brazilian National Health System

“…Feelings of uneasiness, such as worry, fear, shame, loss of identity and belonging, perception of lack of control in face of financial difficulties -commonly found in situations of unemployment, for exampleunderlie the biological rationale between context and mental suffering that lead to both individual and community illness. 7,8 In a contradictory manner, the neoliberal viewpoint seeks to pulverize collective problems into fragmented issues. Failures would be the fault of individuals or families, seen as undertakings that require adequate and responsible management that does not burden EDITORIAL the State.…”

Global conflict escalation during the pandemic, climate, and economic dilemmas: Healthcare sustainability challenges in conflict zones and elsewhere

“…Medical care and health spending generally increase faster than general inflation (Goss, 2022). Also, rising inflation is associated with infant mortality rise (Bao et al, 2022); child and maternal health compromise (Cader & Perera, 2011); hospital labor expenses per patient (American Hospital Association, 2022); depression, anxiety, frustration and stress (Guerra et al, 2022); cost burdens of chronic illnesses (Jung et al, 2022); less access to assistedliving and independent-living facilities for the elderly population (Ansberry, 2022); low-income households to compromise food quality (Jimenez Rincon et al, 2022); decline insurance coverage (Chernew et al, 2005); worsening clinical labor shortage, lack of potential educators and high turnover (Fleron et al, 2022); lack of clinically necessary pharmaceuticals and supplies, as well as the accessibility of insecticides necessary to control vector-borne disease (Claborn, 2020), are just a few examples of such problems (Figure 4).…”