We can look at this question in two different ways:
- Whether being poor causes mental illness, and
- Whether having a mental illness can lead to poverty.
Does poverty cause mental illness?
Poverty increases the level of stress in someone’s life. The constant struggle to
survive can take a great toll on their mental health, and bring about mental health
problems. Clearly, it is easier to have good mental health if you have material comfort
than if you live in poverty.
However, the causes of mental illness are varied and complex. It’s hard to say
that poverty alone directly causes mental illness. Mental illness occurs in all classes of
society, and the great majority of people who live in poverty do not have mental illness.
Does mental illness cause poverty?
Having a mental illness can make it very hard to find a steady job. The chances of
becoming poor are greater if someone is mentally ill. For instance, recent Canadian
studies show that the numbers of homeless people with a mental illness are rising. Still,
many people with mental illness hold down well-paid jobs. A key factor for many of these
people is a strong support network of family and friends.
So we can say that poverty may contribute to mental health problems, and that
mental illness can make it difficult to live above the poverty line. After that, the
connections are not simple. Again, the support of family and friends is key. Poor people
who don’t have support networks are at higher risk of becoming mentally ill.
Likewise, people with mental illness and no solid support networks are more likely to
become and stay poor.
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