Protecting Mental Health during the Cost-Of-Living Crisis

How can we protect people's mental health during this cost-of-living crisis? Researchers have recently published a report that answers this question. They conducted an extensive literature review of the scientific evidence on the impact of past economic crises and societal resilience. They also consulted with stakeholders representing key sectors, including people with personal experience of mental health conditions, community and charitable organisations, health professionals and researchers. The full impact of the current cost-of-living crisis has yet to be discovered. However, we know that 1 in 10 people report feeling hopeless about their financial situation and 1 in 3 people have reported feeling increased stress and anxiety over the last month. The impact that economic hardship can have on someone's mental health is complex and different for every individual. Our genetic predisposition to mental illness, levels of inequality, community and support structures we access, and relationships with friends or family can all affect our resilience. This means there is no one-size-fits-all solution for supporting the nation's mental health during this crisis. Instead, the researchers have made actionable, compassionate and evidence-based recommendations for different sectors, meaning we could take a whole-society approach to helping people. These recommendations include that the UK government increase investment in social protection measures and they outline a 10-year mental health action plan focusing on prevention and early intervention. Recommendations for healthcare providers include collaboration with organisations across the public and third sectors to provide integrated care and identifying and reducing barriers to accessing mental health care services. Recommendations for the private sector and employers include integrating mental health considerations into HR policies and making sure that staff feel secure in their jobs and have good working conditions. Recommendations for community and third sector organisations include bringing people together and supporting grassroots initiatives that provide advice and promote financial literacy. Recommendations for research organisations include using science to advocate for evidence-based policies to better support people's mental health and co-producing research with other organisations. Finally, the report makes some suggestions for us all to help protect our mental health, such as ensuring we are listening to trusted sources of information, supporting each other and most importantly, asking for help with our mental health when we need it. Negative mental health outcomes from the current cost-of-living crisis are not inevitable. If all sectors of society come together, we can support each other through this cost-of-living crisis. Scientific evidence is fundamental to providing effective solutions to protect people's mental health because without research, it's just guesswork.