The contribution of financial hardship, socioeconomic position and physical health to mental health problems among welfare recipients
Date
2013-12
Authors
Kiely, Kim M.
Butterworth, Peter
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Wiley
Abstract
Recent changes to income support payments for single parents have prompted public debate about the financial adequacy of Newstart
allowance and other welfare payments. Currently, the Newstart Allowance for a single person with no dependents is $501.00 per fortnight. The inadequacy of these payments has been highlighted by studies estimating that recipients of unemployment payments spend 122% of their income on daily living expenses, and 75% of Newstart recipients are reported to live in extreme poverty. Given that common psychiatric disorders occur more frequently among welfare recipients relative to the general population, and that financial hardship and
socioeconomic disadvantage are key correlates of mental disorders, the types of welfare reforms recently introduced can have real
implications for population health and wellbeing.
Description
Keywords
welfare, mental health, financial hardship
Citation
Collections
Source
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 37.6 (2013): 589-590
Type
Journal article