Depression increases in tough economy

The economy is depressed, and you may be, too.

It seems obvious: Boom times lead to good moods. People spend money more freely when they have money in the bank, a good home and job security.

But when the economy falters, as it has been doing for about a year, and then plummets, as it has been doing in recent weeks, then rates of anxiety, depression, suicide and other mental illnesses increase as people are stripped of the security thatÂ’s vital for good mental health, professionals say.

“I don’t know anyone who feels like they are economically so stable that nothing can happen to them,” said Dr. Carol Nati, a psychiatrist at Trinity Springs Pavilion at John Peter Smith Hospital and a vice chair of the Tarrant County Hospital District.

The statistics about how much mental illness increases when the economy declines are variable, since there are many cultural factors that can determine how much of an impact the economy has on mental health. However, what is clear is that when the economy is bad, mental health declines, and this holds true globally, according to research from experts.

Often patients present with mental and physical symptoms that result from increased stresses; excessive anxiety, inability to sleep, decreased appetite, difficulty concentrating, feelings of guilt, chest pain and body aches are all possible indicators of mental illness.

The first thing a patient must do is recognize his or her response to anxiety, said Dr. Charles Herlihy, medical director of adult behavioral services at Harris Methodist Springwood Hospital at the campus of Harris Methodist HEB Hospital.

“Once they identify how they respond, then the next thing we encourage them to do is make a plan,” Herlihy said.

That plan can include the patient talking to his financial adviser, accountant or seeking financial counseling. Relaxation techniques and therapy can help, and there are support groups available, Nati said, including ones that have a sliding scale for payment. Social workers are available to assist with food stamps, housing assistance and dependency counseling, she said, since some people react to stress and anxiety by consuming more alcohol or taking drugs.

While the poor economic outlook can spur mental illnesses like depression and anxiety, it can also cause previously diagnosed conditions, like bipolar disorder or obsessive compulsive disorder, to become problematic again, Herlihy said.

“The biggest group that we see are patients with prior psychiatric illness who have been successfully working and the anxiety and the worrying triggers a relapse of their illness,” he said.

There are obvious steps a person can take to help cope with the worrying financial times, Nati said. Eating well, getting enough sleep and exercising regularly can all help the body remain healthy, and if a person feels overwhelmed or hopeless, he should immediately seek help, she said.

“There’s no worse mistake than not seeking help when it’s needed,” she said.

However, the problem is compounded in several ways. Mental illnesses are still plagued by stigmas, and so seeking treatment can be difficult. Additionally, since mental health was often historically an afterthought in the medical community, the field has grown smaller and psychiatric treatment is increasingly inaccessible, Herlihy said.

“Anybody who’s worth a hoot at what they do is full and not available for weeks,” he said.

Further compounding the issue of mental health and the economy is evidence that the relationship has some cascade characteristics, said M. Harvey Brenner, professor of public health at the UNT Health Science Center. Brenner, a sociologist, has studied the ties between health and the economy for more than 30 years, and most of his work was done while he was a professor of health policy and management at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

People see that economic indicators are bad and then have a pessimistic view of the economy and may not spend as much money or take risks, such as applying for a new job or taking a business risk. This leads to further economic slowdown, he said, and itÂ’s been established that mental illnesses like depression can have a negative impact on business because of lost productivity. Then people feel worse, the economy keeps going down, and the whole situation cascades.

“It’s a funny, circular type of argument,” Brenner said.

ItÂ’s not all bad news, though; Brenner said the inverse also is believed to be true, and that there is evidence that improved mental and physical health can play a part in aiding economic growth.

“Improved health goes on to improve the economy,” he said.

Additionally, the economic bailout bill passed Oct. 3 includes a requirement of equal coverage of mental and physical illnesses, a first for American insurance coverage.

Mental health parity has long been sought, and this new law should make it easier for people with mental illness to seek treatment.

As people understand the relationship between the economy and mental health and also realize that there is help available, they will begin to believe that there are steps that can be taken to keep the economy from getting worse, Brenner said. It may be that people find the only thing to fear is fear itself, as President Franklin D. Roosevelt said during another turbulent time in the nationÂ’s history, the Great Depression.