A new national survey shows the economic downturn is taking a toll on the mental health of Americans. Individuals who are unemployed are four times as likely as those with jobs to report symptoms consistent with severe mental illness.

Americans who experienced involuntary changes in their employment status, such as pay cuts or reduced hours, also are twice as likely to have these symptoms, even though they are employed full time.

The survey was conducted for Mental Health America and the National Alliance on Mental Illness in collaboration with the Depression is Real Coalition.

"This survey clearly shows that economic difficulties are placing the public's mental health at serious risk, and we need affirmative action to address these medical problems," said David L. Shern, Ph.D., president and CEO of Mental Health America.

Other key findings of the survey:

• Thirteen percent of unemployed individuals report that they have thought of harming themselves, which is four times more than the percent of persons with full time work who report such thoughts.

• People who are unemployed are approximately six times as likely to have difficulty meeting household expenses—22 percent report great difficulty paying their utilities and almost half have significant difficulty in obtaining health care, further compounding their situation.

• People who are unemployed are also twice as likely to report concern with their mental health or use of alcohol or drugs within the last six months as individuals working full time.

• Of those who have not spoken to a health professional about these concerns, 42 percent cited cost or lack of insurance coverage as the main reason.

• Nearly 20 percent of the sample reported that they had experienced a forced change (e.g. pay cuts, reduced hours) in their employment during the last year.

• Although most of these individuals are employed, individuals with a forced change in employment are twice as likely to report symptoms consistent with severe mental illness than would be expected. They are also five times more likely to report feeling hopeless most or all of the time than individuals who hadn't experienced a forced change.
  

Dr. Shern said the survey demonstrates the need to improve access to services and combat discrimination that can prevent individuals from seeking help. ::