Effects of financial precariousness on mental health

The physical and mental health of a population is based, in particular, on its quality of life and its access to health care. Given these determinants, Greece's population has greatly suffered due to the sharp cuts in the budget for social benefits and health care (some measurable evidence is the recent increase in the suicide rate). Starting January, the 1st of 2015, unemployment benefits in Belgium have been eliminated for all recipients who do not have a full-time year of work over the last three years. Therefore, we must ask whether there will be similar psycho-medical consequences for Belgium's population.

Open study over a year (01/07/14 - 30/06/15) of emergencies admitted to the University Hospital Center of Mont-Godinne including a psychopathological motif. In addition to general socio-demographic data, psychic disorders are measured, as well as different types of crises (familial, professional or couple crisis), familial support and its dynamic (FACES III of Olson) and finally social integration (social isolation scale from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP)). These patients are compared with those admitted during the six months preceding the Act modifying the unemployment benefits.

Between July the 1^st of 2014 and June the 30^th of 2015, we saw an increase in the number of admissions to the psychiatric emergency department by 2.5% in six months, despite a decrease in the number of admissions to all-cause emergencies. Our study also shows a degradation of social network quality characterized by a more pronounced social isolation of our patients. At last, an alteration of cohesion in the patient's origin family was highlighted.

Although we cannot establish a direct causal link between this law and the results of this study, these may suggest a weakening of the population mental health due to difficult socio-economic context. As a result, we are faced not only with a public health problem but also with one concerning health care organization.