Mental health disorders affect people from all socioeconomic classes.

Mental health disorders affect people from all socioeconomic classes. The economic, social, and environmental conditions of individuals are contributing factors to their mental health. Poverty is a significant contributor to children’s’ and adult’s behavioral development. According to Inglis & Knifton, 2020, people living in lower-income areas reported higher levels of mental distress with the likelihood of committing suicide being three times as high. An example is Bihar, India, one of the poorest areas has more schizophrenic people than all of North America (Gega, et al, 2017).

Children growing up in poverty can experience more anxiety, depression, and adverse childhood experiences.  Adverse childhood experiences are experiences with abuse or household dysfunction and are predictors of mental health disorders in adulthood. 10.8% of children in poverty experienced four or more adverse childhood experiences, compared to 1% in high-income households (Inglis & Knifton, 2020). Individuals suffering with mental illness are at a greater risk for economic challenges from loss of employment or receiving lower incomes. It is vital for policymakers to fully understand the link between poverty and mental health disorders to create effective policies.