Integrating youth mental health into cash transfer programmes in response to the COVID-19 crisis in low-income and middle-income countries.
Journal: The lancet. Psychiatry
Volume: 8
Issue: 4
Year of Publication: 2021
Affiliated Institutions:
Care Policy and Evaluation Centre, Department of Health Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK. Electronic address: a.bauer@lse.ac.uk.
Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Care Policy and Evaluation Centre, Department of Health Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK.
Department of Global Health & Social Medicine, King's College London, London, UK; Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Harvard School of Public Health Boston, Massachusetts, MA, USA.
Escuela de Gobierno Alberto Lleras Camargo, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia.
Centre for Global Mental Health, Health Service & Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Centre for Global Mental Health, Health Service & Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo, Department of Public Health, São Paulo, Brasil.
Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Departamento de Medicina Preventiva, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil.
Programa de Pós-graduação em Distúrbios do Desenvolvimento, Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie, São Paulo, Brasil.
Department of Global Health & Social Medicine, King's College London, London, UK; Centre for Global Mental Health, Health Service & Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
Abstract summary
Social protection measures can play an important part in securing livelihoods and in mitigating short-term and long-term economic, social, and mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, cash transfer programmes are currently being adapted or expanded in various low-income and middle-income countries to support individuals and families during the pandemic. We argue that the current crisis offers an opportunity for these programmes to focus on susceptible young people (aged 15-24 years), including those with mental health conditions. Young people living in poverty and with mental health problems are at particular risk of experiencing adverse health, wellbeing, and employment outcomes with long-term consequences. They are also at risk of developing mental health conditions during this pandemic. To support this population, cash transfer programmes should not only address urgent needs around food security and survival but expand their focus to address longer-term mental health impacts of pandemics and economic crises. Such an approach could help support young people's future life chances and break the vicious cycle between mental illness and poverty that spirals many young people into both socioeconomic and mental health disadvantage.
Authors & Co-authors:
Bauer Annette A
Garman Emily E
McDaid David D
Avendano Mauricio M
Hessel Philipp P
Díaz Yadira Y
Araya Ricardo R
Lund Crick C
Malvasi Paulo P
Matijasevich Alicia A
Park A-La AL
Paula Cristiane Silvestre CS
Ziebold Carolina C
Zimmerman Annie A
Evans-Lacko Sara S
Study Outcome
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