Occupation, poverty and mental health improvement in Ghana

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between a number of socioeconomic indicators (asset ownership, assets purchased, change in income, food shortage, kept job after illness) and two outcomes: improvement in mental illness and stability of mental illness. A sample of urban and rural Ghanaians reporting a mental illness ( n = 400) was used. This focus on changes in mental illness differs from much previous work that examines mental illness status (i.e., whether or not a person has a mental illness). It was found that maintaining employment after the onset of illness was associated with both mental illness improvement and stability. Income increases were related to stability of mental illness only. Asset and food shortage measures were not found to be significant correlates of mental illness improvement or stability. This study indicates that measures taken to protect jobs and social status after the onset of mental illness symptoms are likely to facilitate improvements in mental health.