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The social underpinnings of mental distress in the time of COVID-19 - time for urgent action

Author

Listed:
  • Rose, Nikolas
  • Manning, Nick
  • Bentall, Richard
  • Bhui, Kamaldeep
  • Burgess, Rochelle
  • Carr, Sarah
  • Cornish, Flora
  • Devakumar, Delan
  • Dowd, Jennifer B.
  • Ecks, Stefan
  • Faulkner, Alison
  • Keene, Alex Ruck
  • Kirkbride, James
  • Knapp, Martin
  • Lovell, Anne M.
  • Martin, Paul
  • Moncrieff, Joanna
  • Parr, Hester
  • Pickersgill, Martyn
  • Richardson, Genevra
  • Sheard, Sally

Abstract

We argue that predictions of a 'tsunami' of mental health problems as a consequence of the pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the lockdown are overstated; feelings of anxiety and sadness are entirely normal reactions to difficult circumstances, not symptoms of poor mental health. Some people will need specialised mental health support, especially those already leading tough lives; we need immediate reversal of years of underfunding of community mental health services. However, the disproportionate effects of COVID-19 on the most disadvantaged, especially BAME people placed at risk by their social and economic conditions, were entirely predictable. Mental health is best ensured by urgently rebuilding the social and economic supports stripped away over the last decade. Governments must pump funds into local authorities to rebuild community services, peer support, mutual aid and local community and voluntary sector organisations. Health care organisations must tackle racism and discrimination to ensure genuine equal access to universal health care. Government must replace highly conditional benefit systems by something like a universal basic income. All economic and social policies must be subjected to a legally binding mental health audit. This may sound unfeasibly expensive, but the social and economic costs, not to mention the costs in personal and community suffering, though often invisible, are far greater.

Suggested Citation

  • Rose, Nikolas & Manning, Nick & Bentall, Richard & Bhui, Kamaldeep & Burgess, Rochelle & Carr, Sarah & Cornish, Flora & Devakumar, Delan & Dowd, Jennifer B. & Ecks, Stefan & Faulkner, Alison & Keene, , 2020. "The social underpinnings of mental distress in the time of COVID-19 - time for urgent action," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 106146, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
  • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:106146
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. James Banks & Xiaowei Xu, 2020. "The Mental Health Effects of the First Two Months of Lockdown during the COVID‐19 Pandemic in the UK," Fiscal Studies, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 41(3), pages 685-708, September.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    BAME; benefit system reform; mental distress; social disadvantage; universal basic income; Covid-19; coronavirus;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E6 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook

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