As part of a series of seven reports published by the Lancet today, Financial crisis, austerity and health in Europe, highlighted that the effects of economic turbulence on health are generally poorly understood, despite having been researched for nearly 100 years.

The research said that the number of suicides in people younger than 65 years has grown in the EU since 2007, reversing a steady decrease in many countries. In member states that joined the EU in or after 2004, suicides peaked in 2009 and remained high in 2010, whereas a further increase was noted in 2010 among the 15 pre-2004 countries.

In addition, the prevalence of mental health issues in unemployed people was found to be more than twice than in employed people at 34% and 16% respectively. The report also said the negative effects of unemployment on mental health were less in countries with strong employment protection systems than those with weaker frameworks.

via Study reveals drastic impact of financial crisis on global health – Workplace Savings & Benefits.