Yahoo News 50% of people with severe mental illness in the North can't afford food - studies show
Half of people with severe mental illness in the North of England live worrying where their next meal will come from.
That's according to research from the Centre of Mental Health (CfMH), Teesside University and the Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust. In commentary published in the last week, Andy Bell - chief executive of the CfMH - highlighted this was one of the "starkest inequalities people face today".
The research has found that just 50% of those with a severe diagnosis can afford food, and almost one in three were "extremely food poor". Just 36% of people in this situation would be classed as being "food secure".
Andy said: "This is a structural inequality that has far-reaching consequences. People with a mental illness face a 15-20 year life expectancy gap. And the gap is getting bigger. Among the people surveyed in this study, 59% had physical health problems as well as mental illness, and 38% had multiple health problems."
He said work must now take place to tackle the poverty and its "pernicious links" to mental ill health, and added: "The extent and severity of food insecurity among people with a mental illness in the UK requires urgent and concerted action. This cannot be ignored."
Andy - who has worked at the CfMH for more than 20 years - added that reforming social security, ensuring that workers receive a living wage and access to welfare advice, housing support and employment services could help tackle poverty for this group.
The research featured testimony from people with severe illness, which could include schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder, and other forms of psychosis. Among the 135 people who were included in the study, one said they'd loss weight so much that their clothes did not fit - but could not replace them - while another said their friend had sold an Xbox in order to give them the money needed for food.
Tracy Bruce, head of community and crisis services at Everyturn Mental Health, echoed this. She spoke of the charity's Together in a Crisis service and said the report featured "appalling statistics".
Tracy added: "We’re saddened but unfortunately not shocked to read these appalling statistics. People are going hungry because they’re finding it so hard to make ends meet – which of course is going to impact their mental health."
“4,233 people in the North East accessed our Together in a Crisis mental health services since July last year; almost 50% of those were people who also needed urgent and practical financial support. As a result, we’ve given almost £12,000 worth of food and utility bill vouchers through our partnership voucher scheme."
Tracy said that mental ill health needed to be tackled as far more than just a clinical issue. She said the charity was working with the NHS - including TEWV - to help produce a "more joined-up" approach to mental health.
This week, the Government announced a "joined-up" work and health support service to help the long-term sick back into work will be piloted in 15 areas of England. The WorkWell programme is part of the Government’s sweeping changes to the welfare system, including a review of payments to people with mental health conditions, which prompted accusations of a “full-on assault on disabled people”.
From October, the £64 million pilot will "connect people with a health condition or disability to local support services including physiotherapy and counselling to help them stay in or return to work".
