INEQUALITY AND MENTAL HEALTH
Recently the world commemorated the World Mental Health Day under the theme “mental health in an unequal world.” It was indeed a befitting theme on the basis that inequalities are running riot in this world.
We live in an unequal world where there is poverty, financial exclusion, tribalism, racism, sexism, discrimination based on sexual orientation, social exclusion to name but a few; which contribute immensely to inequality.
How do these inequalities contribute to poor mental health? Inequalities do negatively affect mental health. As observed by the World Health Organisation (WHO), those that endure inequality have increased vulnerability for mental health problems.
Because of the inequality bug, studies have highlighted that some people experience low self-esteem, have low self worth and lack confidence. This will then build to the trend whereby those with low self-esteem use more financial resources to attain a certain impression that will improve their self-worth. Subsequently people now end up wired in debts which heightens their risk for developing mental illness. Increased debts will facilitate despair which leads to depression. In trying to cope with the self-esteem disturbance, some may use substances, drugs to compensate for such emotional volatility.
Employment has been seen to have a strong influence on poor mental health of those that are unemployed. Employment gives structure to one’s life, gives one dignity, avails a platform for making a contribution and cushions against other consequent stressors attached to finances hence serves as a protective factor. Poor education, which stems from inequality, is also an instigator for poor mental health. There is substantial evidence linking dropping out of school with the advent of mood disorders, suicidal ideations and substance use disorders.
The lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) community are discriminated upon on the basis of gender and sexual orientation. They are bullied and ostracised which leads to them experiencing various mental health problems. I recently observed first hand homophobic sentiments in a live feed of a case that was before the Court of Appeal which highlighted the need for stringent policy to address homophobia. As posited by Karl Jaspers, “there must be no tolerance of intolerance.”
Many scholars have deemed inequality to be “an enemy between us” and thus the need to nip it in the bud. There is a lot that can be done to reduce inequality through a multi-sectoral approach.