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Research published on those affected most in pandemic

According to the annual Society Watch report by the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) increases in mental distress occurred in all groups, but the largest increases by far were felt by society’s financial ‘help-seekers’ – people needing financial support other than furlough, such as the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme or a new claim for Universal Credit, after their income was hit by the pandemic.

The research found that people from Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds were twice as likely as white people to be ‘help-seekers’ requiring financial support and facing the greatest increases in mental distress during the Covid pandemic.

A separate group of ‘multi-strugglers’ – those facing numerous and financial difficulties – consistently faced the highest levels of mental distress both before and during the crisis.

Other key findings for the report were:
• In the early months of the pandemic a substantial increase in mental distress in the UK population occurred but did not affect all groups equally.
• In the older population, there is a strong link between socio-economic vulnerability and depression. Before the pandemic, older people relying on state benefits were three times more likely to be affected by depression than those not receiving state benefits.
• Depression, anxiety and loneliness has been greater during the pandemic in older people in high-risk groups and self-isolating; depression was also more common in older people with multiple long-term health difficulties.
• For children, adults and older people, food insecurity – either not having enough or well-balanced food or increased reliance on foodbanks – is linked with poorer mental health.

Dr Neil Smith, from the National Centre for Social Research, said: “We can observe increased mental distress across the population as a consequence of the pandemic, but people faced with growing financial insecurity have been far harder hit than the financially secure.”

NatCen’s analysis of financial inequalities and mental health during the pandemic is based on data from 12,426 adults aged 16 or over in the United Kingdom who supplied information about their financial situation. The analysis categorises peoples’ financial experiences during the first nine months of the pandemic into six different groups:
• Undisrupted – little change to individual/household income.
• Beneficiaries – increased individual and/or household income during the pandemic.
• Copers – took a financial hit but didn’t need to change their behaviour much to cover it.
• Self-supporters – drop in individual and/or household income but used savings or reduced expenditure cover this.
• Help-seekers – reduced individual and/or household income and looked for external help, such as borrowing, benefits or new employment.
• Multi-strugglers – people who needed to take advantage of many different types of non-work based financial support.

Read the report at natcen.ac.uk/societywatch