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September 19, 2008
Economic crisis causes jump in use of mental health services
Bloomberg News (9/19, Waters, Olmos) reports that, according to "operators of telephone crisis lines, insurers, hospital administrators, and therapists interviewed over the last month," the current economic "crisis, which has caused an explosion of foreclosures, is sending everyday people to mental-health services at levels not seen since the 9/11 terror attacks."
For example, "in New York, calls to the Hopeline network for people with depression or suicidal thoughts leaped 75 percent to 10,368 in the 11 months ending in July 2008." Meanwhile, "hospital admissions for psychiatric and substance-abuse services have increased as much as 10 percent this year from last year, and outpatient mental-health treatments have risen as much as five percent in claims submitted to Minnetonka, Minnesota-based UnitedHealth."
Harvey Brenner, Ph.D., of the University of North Texas, explained that "economic recessions typically lead to increased suicides and hospital admissions for psychiatric care, usually within one year of the start of the decline."
Related links:
- "Mental-Health Lines Buzz in U.S. Recession Depression," Rob Waters and David Olmos, Bloomberg News, September 19, 2008.
Posted by admin at September 19, 2008 03:51 PM