Britain has been warned of a 26-percent increase in the number of people experiencing mental health problems by 2010 as a direct result of Britain's economic crisis.
MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS TO INCREASE
The recession started to bite the country in October 2008 and has affected many sectors, leading to the closure of thousands of businesses with resultant job losses.
Some British health staff said that more and more patients were expressing feelings of anxiety and depression brought about by the recession.
Dr. Timothy Bland, a member of the British Medical Association, said that many people in the construction industry and electricians came to him with stress caused by the current economic climate.
"They are worried about the lack of work and it is manifesting itself in the form of increased stress and illness levels," he told Xinhua, noting that "some are experiencing depression and sleep disorders or insomnia."
Many city workers are also affected by the recession with increased stress levels, though "this is often the case amongst people in the financial sector," Bland said.
Also in many parts of the country, house repossessions are forcing many people onto the streets or into less than suitable accommodation, which poses a health risk on the people.
"Levels of illness will increase if people don't have a roof over their heads," he explained.
"Stress will increase amongst the dispossessed and as the standard of living for such individuals drops they will be less able to feed and cloth themselves."
Britain has seen the worst housing situation in 12 years. The number of homebuyers who lost their properties soared by 55 percent during 2008 to 40,000, according to statistics released recently by the Council of Mortgage Lenders.
In 2009 the number of repossessions is estimated to reach at least 75,000. It is a situation fueled by rising unemployment, which is forecast to exceed 3 million by the end of the year.
WARNING OF RISING SUICIDE
Samaritans, a charity organization which offers 24-hour confidential emotional support throughout Britain and Ireland, has warned that the deepening financial and economic crisis could lead to an increase in suicide rate nationwide.
Nearly 3 million people contact Samaritans every year. The group said that around 10 percent, or 280,000, of the calls and correspondence are connected with financial concerns. Some 40 percent are worried about their financial situation brought about by sudden unemployment. A third are concerned about housing and a quarter are anxious about debt.
Research shows that people who are unemployed are two or three times more likely to commit suicide than those with jobs.
Stephen Platt, professor of Health Policy Research at the University of Edinburgh and a Samaritans' Trustee, said, "economic recession, especially when it is sudden and severe, can lead to an increase in suicide rate."
"This is not only because more people become unemployed and, as a result, more psychologically vulnerable, but also because those in employment feel threatened too," Platt said.
"The fear of losing one's job and pressures caused by a downturn in business, demotion or pension plan cutbacks can be bad for mental health and therefore increase suicide risk," Platt said.
MORE GOVERNMENT SUPPORT REQUIRED
The National Association for Mental Health, a leading mental health charity group, has joined the Royal College of Psychiatrists and two other leading mental health organizations in calling on the British government to ensure that any welfare reform measures should give the best possible support for people with mental health problems.
"In the last recession, many people with mental health problems were written off as unemployable when they lost their jobs. Another recession will undoubtedly put pressure on the government's initiatives to support people in finding and holding on to jobs," said a joint statement issued by the above groups.
"But we must ensure that we offer the right help at the right time to people experiencing mental distress, or we run the risk of creating a new 'lost generation'."
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