Chapter 10 - Exclusion from Material Resources

Summary

This chapter outlines the levels of poverty, debt, and financial hardship in people with mental health conditions, the social security system, and living conditions, including neighbourhood deprivation, housing, and transport. People with mental health conditions are more likely to be excluded from material resources than others in society. They are over-represented in low-income group, those living in poor housing, and deprived environments. They are likely to be in debt or have other financial difficulties and to be receiving inadequate amounts of state benefits. The severity of the condition and its longevity exacerbates the degree of exclusion. There appears to be a two-way relationship between mental ill-health and material deprivation: social and environmental aspects of material exclusion play a role in the cause of mental ill-health and mental ill-health leads to material exclusion. Poverty mediates the relationship between mental health conditions and the many other social problems that people face, as well as impeding their ability to cope with their mental health difficulties. People’s responses to poor conditions are universal and, for those with mental health conditions, may be more appropriately seen as a consequence of their impoverished circumstances rather than due to their mental health conditions.