Foreclosure Crisis has taken a Toll on the Mental Health of the People
The people are stressed out from layoffs (actual or feared) and underemployment with salaries being slashed. The foreclosure crisis has taken a toll on the mental health of the people in no uncertain way.
One who knows intimately the intensity of it is Deanne Ross. During the peak of the recession she had her hands full imparting training to those who had recently been unemployed on how to build up supporting groups to handle mental disturbances during these stressful days. But Ross soon herself found herself unemployed. She was working with National Alliance dealing with Mental Illness and was a field operator.
Since that time Ross, who is in her early forties and suffering from bipolar disorder is battling urges to withdraw from social contact. Apprehensions about becoming homeless are haunting her.
There are many like her posted on the unemployment lists reeling under mental pressures that the Great Recession has released. Those laid off are facing difficulties in adjusting to the new situation – emotionally as well as monetarily. Those who have managed to avoid layoffs are enduring the guilt of being on the boat while colleagues and friends are drowning. They have lost their motivation for working and this is telling on their quality of work causing worry to employers and those who provide health care.
The hospitals and the counselors are feeling the strain with increased loads of cases as more people suffering from stress, emanating from the recession, are seeking help. Without jobs and health insurance many of them cannot meet the expenses. The employers are under pressure to give the back up support and deal with personal problems.
Dan McCarthy of Magellan Health Services said, “For many American workers, this financial stress, uncertainty and anxiety can be significant, and it’s important that they have places to turn for guidance and support.” The services focuses on managing benefit related to mental health.
According to the findings of Magellan, the demand for its services via EAP (Employment Assistance Programme) went up by 10% across the country all through 2009 till the first quarter of 2010. Most of the complaints related to legal and financial problems centering round managing debts, refinancing of mortgages, handling foreclosures and loss of job.
Anxiety is crushing down upon Ross. She has five children to care of. All her life she has been hard working managing things even with the physical challenge of one foot being higher than the other one. She is undergoing periods of euphoria followed by depression when she hears voices.
