Income can be a determinant of mental health risk, especially in cases where income is lost suddenly - economic shock - when people can slip into depression, according to research presented at a conference at The Australian National University.
Joanne Epp, a PhD student at the University of New South Wales, has been examining the link between socio-economic status and mental health.
She says there is a relationship between being financially well and mentally well.
"People are more likely to have a mental illness if they are from a low socio-economic background, but income is not a factor for people with other chronic conditions, like diabetes, heart disease or asthma," she said.
Ms Epp says the research considers a number of variables, including education.
Those with higher education and higher income are less likely to have mental illness than others.
She says income support for people who are suffering economic shock could go some way to preventing stress that leads to mental illness and should be considered by governments.
Ms Epp presented the findings of this project thus far at the Emerging Health Policy Research Conference held by The Menzies Centre for Health Policy, a joint initiative of The Australian National University and the University of Sydney funded by the Menzies Foundation.
The annual conference gives new researchers in the field of health policy research an opportunity to promote their work.
Mr Robert Wells, Co-Director the centre said there was a great deal of important work being done by new researchers to the field of health policy.
"All of the people presenting at this conference are doing doctoral or post-doctoral research. These researchers are the next generation of leaders in health care research and they have a great deal to contribute to the health care debate in Australia.Their work will have implications for health policy into the future," he said.
For more information:
Jane O'Dwyer Media Manager The Australian National University
T: 02 6125 5001 M: 0416 249 231