Experiences of Mental Distress by Individuals During an Economic Downturn: The Story of an Urban City (Report‪)‬

Introduction A variety of social conditions or statuses are involved in determination of risk for symptoms of mental distress. While everyone experiences some amount of stress, economic hardship and insecurity are stressors that can be expected to have immediate and powerful negative consequences for mental health. Frequency of mental distress are related to low income and economic insecurity, but in complex ways. Since people living on low incomes, who in American society are also disproportionately of minority racial or ethnic status, experience higher levels of stress in their daily lives, research has generally indicated that the poor and members of minority groups are more likely to exhibit higher than average frequencies of mental distress (Muntaner, Eaton, and Diala, 2000; Meyer, 2003). Research signals other vulnerable groups as well, especially the young and sexual minorities; while, conversely, there is ample evidence that as age and income increase, mental health, as measured by frequency and severity of mental health symptoms, improves (Harris et al, 2006).