A clinical study was conducted to determine whether employment programs introduced to provide employment opportunities to low-income families could also help reduce mental health disorders among these people.
A mental disorder is characterized by a clinically significant disturbance in an individual’s thinking, emotions, or behavior. It is usually associated with distress or impairment in important areas of functioning. One in every eight people in the world lives with a mental disorder. Anxiety and depression are two common mental disorders. Globally, mental disorders are the largest contributor to the global burden of disease (GBD) and to years lived with disability. As of 2018 common mental disorders (CMDs) accounted for 12.7% of total years lived with disability.
Traditionally, psychotherapy and medications are used to manage these mental disorders with moderate results. However, these techniques fail to address the social causes of these mental disorders such as poverty and unemployment. Hence it is thought that reducing poverty by providing employment opportunities to the public might reduce the burden of common mental disorders. However, strong clinical data to support this hypothesis is lacking.
The clinical study was an analysis of five previously conducted clinical trials. The clinical study aimed to find the association between employment programs and mental health.
The findings of the study indicated that employment programs had a positive impact on mental health outcomes. Specifically, the studies showed that employment programs were associated with a reduction in symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress.