In response to #MentalHealthAwareness week, we explore five ways in which our growth-obsessed capitalist economy threatens our mental health. Working class people are struggling to cope with the spiralling cost of living and the lack of safe and affordable homes. Racial inequality and financial exclusion pile further pressure on ethnic minorities. And the climate emergency brings new challenges, putting vulnerable people at risk right now, and all of us at risk in the future.
Content warning: Please be aware the following article contains brief mentions of suicide risk. These highlight the groups that are at greater risk, and the wider circumstances that contribute to that risk, but do not discuss any specific events or details.
Cost of living crisis
The cost of living crisis is a political choice that is harming the poorest and most vulnerable people. We’re seeing this play out as oil and gas giants like BP and Shell announced record profits, but the government remained reluctant refuses to impose a windfall tax on their profits until the situation became critical and the political pressure
— source positivemoney.org | Nicole Omotoye | May 26, 2022