What is it about?
We tried to find out what the relationship is between the economic crisis in Europe in 2008 and the psychological well-being of people. We did a literature review on this topic and we found that the main reactions of most policy makers to the economic crisis are (severe) austerity measures. These measures seem to have, however, a detrimental effect on the mental health of the population: Just when people have the highest need for mental help, cost-cutting measures in the health care sector lead to a (substantial) drop in the supply of services for the prevention, early detection, and cure of mental health problems. Policy makers should support moderating mechanisms such as financial and psychological coping and acculturation and the role of primary health care workers in the early detection of suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts, and suicide in times of economic recession.
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Why is it important?
It must be clear that, instead of cutting back on health care and social welfare measures, policy makers should in the future invest even more in social protection measures during economic crises.
Perspectives
It seems strange that policy makers choose the wrong option when an economic crisis occurs. However, we should learn our lessons from the economic crisis of 2008, so that more is invested in social protection measures during future economic crises and not less
Professor Guido Van Hal
Universiteit Antwerpen
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This page is a summary of: The true cost of the economic crisis on psychological well-being: a review, Psychology Research and Behavior Management, January 2015, Taylor & Francis,
DOI: 10.2147/prbm.s44732.
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