Foreword
The ground to be covered in this session is as follows:
- Purpose of the session;
- MH Commission re-cap;
- The relationship between financial well-being and mental health;
- Local context and feedback;
- Emerging Commission ideas for action.
The importance of financial wellbeing to factor in mental health
There is compelling evidence that financial wellbeing is a major determinant of mental health and the biggest single factor in explaining mental health inequalities (Davie, 2022).
There is a clear correspondence between rates of child poverty and poor mental health in different areas of the country.
The risk of mental health sections, suicide (and all physical illness) increases with deprivation.
Poverty increases the risk of experiencing multiple adverse childhood events (ACEs) leading to an increased risk of mental ill health.
World Health Organisation determinants of health and illness
- Social determinants like poverty and discrimination 55% of outcomes
- Health care – up to 20% of outcomes
- Interesting models include Scandinavia, with a very high minimum wage, renewables, active travel, equity in education, etc
Poverty intersects with other challenges
- People from some racialised communities in the UK experience much poorer mental health outcomes than white British people, and this intersects with levels of poverty.
- It is important to note that racism, in itself and independently of poverty, causes and worsens mental ill health (Paradies et al., 2015).
- Poverty rates vary significantly by ethnicity, but all racialised groups are more likely to be living in poverty. This is due to lower wages, higher unemployment rates, higher rates of part-time working, higher housing costs in England’s large cities, and slightly larger household sizes.
- Poverty and financial inequality also intersect with gender, disability and some other protected characteristics to place some people at far greater risk of poor mental health than others.
Regional TfWM cost of living survey feedback overview
270 responses, September 2022.
Questions asked aimed to:
- Gauge concerns around the rising cost of living and the impact it is having on citizen mental health and wellbeing.
- Gain insight into actions taken as a result of the rising cost of living.
- Anticipate future concerns and how these might be mitigated.
- Test levels of optimism towards the economy and mental health within the region and local communities.
Main Impacts on Mental Health/Wellbeing
The main impact on mental wellbeing was increased stress/worry/depression as a result of the current rising cost of living (42%). Others were concerned for the future/up-coming winter months (18%), were feeling emotionally/mentally drained due to having to plan ahead/constantly monitor their budget (12%).
Effect on Mental Wellbeing in next 12 months
Two fifths (40%) of respondents thought that they’d become more stressed/anxious/scared/depressed over the next 12 months due to the rising cost of living, with a further 12% thinking that their mental health and wellbeing would deteriorate/worsen. 1 in 10 hoped their mental health would be unaffected, or thought it was difficult to comment.
Opportunities to increase income
Living wage accreditation:
- encourage key organisations to pursue it (Birmingham City Council is already accredited and also strongly supports the agenda);
- Encourage key organisations to use leverage / ‘soft power’ on contractors to pursue accreditation;
- Opportunities to learn from work in London, etc. to
- Consider applicability to all adults
- Link to ICS health inequalities strategies and ‘people’ strategies –
- promote skills development.
Skills development and career opportunities
-reducing discriminatory barriers to recruitment, retention and progression (e.g. Walsall Housing Group has successfully worked with NHS Trusts and local colleges to improve recruitment and retention – looking at advertising, language used, etc.
-Job guarantees for long-term unemployed people and those with long-term social care support
Opportunities for cost reduction
Rent controls – explore their use, learning from Scotland, etc
Transport –
-Subsidised and / or free transport for young people up to age of 25;
-Improve frequency of buses;
-Support with travel costs to access work, education, training, etc.
-Actions to promote active travel to support access to leisure centres, parks, etc.
Emergency funding for energy costs (75% of survey respondents)
Funding for food (67% of survey respondents).
Use Council Tax relief schemes to ensure people facing the biggest threats to their finances are not at risk from non-payment. We know that the West Midlands is the 3rd highest region for council tax arrears.
Pursuit of genuinely affordable housing – strict / contractual levers to ensure delivery of good proportions of social housing in new housing developments; housing for key workers;
Energy efficient housing: more energy efficient genuinely affordable homes. Ongoing help for people to insulate their homes, reducing the costs of heating to those with the lowest incomes. There is evidence that having a warm home has a direct and causal positive impact on mental health, with knock-on benefits to physical health.
Advocating for more timely and supportive benefits processes - impact of Disability Living Allowance backlog / PIP reviews
Funding to enable community advice services (delivered by VCS orgs), specifically supporting a local, physical presence and provision targeted to highly vulnerable sections of the population.