Nathalie Vigo - Argument Map Project III by Nathalie Vigo

Argument: What is the correlation between poverty and mental health?

nav63_ — 2023-11-17 22:11:14 UTC

Yes! Many people are suffering from mental illness while living in impoverished areas.

nav63_ — 2023-11-17 22:50:50 UTC

No! No matter where someone lives, they can suffer from a mental illness.

nav63_ — 2023-11-19 09:03:58 UTC

That is true but...

nav63_ — 2023-11-19 09:04:16 UTC

Environmental factors have a huge effect on a person's mental health. Especially through their upbringing as it can affect them into their adult years. People who live in deprived areas have reported higher levels of mental illness and lower levels of well-being compared to those who live in wealthier areas. The article has stated, "In 2018 for example, 23% of men and 26% of women living in the most deprived areas of Scotland reported levels of mental distress indicative of a possible psychiatric disorder, compared with 12 and 16% of men and women living in the least deprived areas" (Knifton and Inglis). Adding onto that, there also is a clear connection between the likelihood of suicide and your environmental situation. The risk of suicide is three times higher in least deprived areas than in most deprived areas.

Environmental impact:

nav63_ — 2023-11-19 09:04:46 UTC

A person's mental health can be extremely affected by social, environmental, and economic conditions, especially where they are born, work, age, and raised. When it comes to children, their mental health can deteriorate from a young age based on what they are exposed to at home. According to the article, "Poverty and mental health: policy, practice and research implications", it states, "Poverty and deprivation are key determinants of children's social and behavioral development and an adult's mental health" (Knifton and Inglis).

Mortality rates:

nav63_ — 2023-11-19 09:06:12 UTC

Glasgow is part of Scotland's highest rates of income deprivation, with working-age adults claiming out-of-work benefits, and children living in low-income families. Additionally, Glasgow is known to have high rates of mortality and their life expectancy is the lowest overall in the country. Males and females, who were born in 2016-18, are expected to live 3.6 and 2.7 fewer years respectively than the average person living in Scotland. To be more specific, those who live in Glasgow, males and females living in the most deprived areas can expect to live 13.5 and 10.7 fewer years than those living in the least deprived areas.

How does mental health have a huge impact on families?

nav63_ — 2023-11-19 09:06:24 UTC

Children who are raised in poverty and terrible conditions can cause poor mental health through social stress, stigma, and trauma. Not only are children being affected but so are their parents. Parents who suffer from mental illness can make their children angry, helpless, and embarrassed. Additionally, based on the behavior the parents are exhibiting, children will prevalent their behavior too when they are older. Children learn more from their parents and surroundings than anyone else throughout their childhood.

Ideas on how to help:

nav63_ — 2023-11-19 09:11:40 UTC

The authors have come up with three ideas on how to help and one that stood out to me was about ensuring poverty-aware practice is inserted in services through commissioning, training, and teaching. To go into more detail, it is about when taking care of others, they should know the person's financial situation. Healthcare should provide programs on how one can help increase their income, learn about managing their debt, access benefits, etc. But for this to work or for it to exist, there should be an investment in mental health services that are specifically focused on low-income areas.

Children who are affected:

nav63_ — 2023-11-20 01:50:08 UTC

One study discovered that out of 4-year-olds who lived in the most deprived areas of Glasgow, 7.3% were displaying social, behavioral, and emotional difficulties. Of those who lived in the least deprived areas, it was only 4.1%. The gap widens when they reach age 7; 14.7% of children in the most deprived areas exemplified difficulties and those who lived in the least deprived areas had a rate of 3.6%. When it comes to national data, the article mentions, "At around 4 years of age, 20% of children living in the most deprived areas of Scotland are rated as having ‘borderline’ or ‘abnormal’ levels of difficulties, compared with only 7% living in the least deprived areas" (Knifton and Inglis).