A report published by the (External) World Health Organisation (WHO) argues that it is inequality, rather than poverty per se, that has the most profound and far-reaching consequences for individuals and wider society. The study, which draws on research from throughout Europe, concludes that mental health difficulties are most pronounced in countries such as Britain, which, although rich, have high levels of income and social inequality.
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The report, carried out by the (External) World Health Organisation (WHO) for the (External) Mental Health Foundation , looked at recent research across a range of disciplines. It argues that only radical and broad policy changes will counter directly the trend of growing inequality. It goes so far as to say that the social and economic prosperity of Europe will depend on improving mental health and wellbeing.
Commissioned to look at how mental health affects a range of health, social and economic outcomes, the study concludes that international research shows “beyond doubt” that mental health needs to be taken as seriously as physical health. Looking at the trends on physical health outcomes when a country becomes richer – which point to a positive impact on factors such as mortality rates – it found the opposite to be true of mental health. “As countries get richer, rates of mental illness increase.” It argues that the level of mental distress among communities “needs to be understood less in terms of individual pathology and more as a response to inequalities involving relative deprivation across society”.
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