According to a recent study, the state of health of the unemployed deteriorates as this period of inactivity is prolonged. Luc Biecq, author of the book Self-defense guide for the licensee, from the explosion to the reconstruction, explains that the physical and mental health of the unemployed should be taken more into account by specific support to prevent mental disorders, addictions and suicides. .
- 38% of people mentioned a deterioration in their state of health. Nearly 60% of them estimated that it was due to unemployment.
- Unemployment can have both physical and mental health consequences. This period of inactivity can lead to loss of self-confidence and isolation, which can lead to depression, anxiety, addictions, and even suicide.
Unemployment harms health. This is the conclusion drawn from a survey carried out by four associations. However, “despite the many data on the subject, the suffering of private individuals is not addressed enough. As proof: few candidates for the presidential elections of 2022 talk about it”, deplores Luc Biecq, author of the book Licensee’s self-defense guide, from deflagration to reconstruction.
To carry out their study, published on December 14, the associations Solidarités nouvelles face au unemployment (SNC), Territories zero long-term unemployed (TZC), Force Femmes and La Cravate solidaire collected the testimonies of 977 people deprived of employment. . They found that 38% of the unemployed mentioned a deterioration in their state of health since they no longer worked.
Unemployment jeopardizes physical health
According to the results, 37% of them declared that the illnesses from which they suffered had worsened. Nearly 25% of respondents indicated that they had developed one or more conditions since becoming unemployed. Another worrying figure: 43% of people recognized as disabled said that their state of health had deteriorated. Due to a lack of income, 32% of the unemployed had to give up seeking treatment and consulting health professionals.
“In addition to being socially and financially weakened, people who experience unemployment see their state of health deteriorate as unemployment continues, which accentuates their overall difficulties and constitutes an unfavorable factor for their return to employment. “, can we read in the survey.
Loss of self-confidence and isolation
This period of inactivity also has effects “destroyers” on the mental health of job seekers. “Elisabeth Grebot, lecturer in clinical psychology, compares the fact of losing one’s job to post-traumatic stress disorder. A dismissal results in a psychological injury that leaves traces. When you are deprived of a job, you loses our bearings, our habits and the social bond”, develops Luc Biecq.
He adds that unemployment leads to a loss of self-confidence because people without jobs are ashamed of being in this situation. “Political discourse does not make things easier. It accuses the unemployed of being lazy when they need their qualities and skills to be highlighted”, the journalist is indignant. Being unemployed also reinforces isolation. According to the study conducted by the four associations, 69% of respondents said that unemployment had caused a deterioration in the image they had of themselves and 55% said they felt particularly isolated since they no longer worked.
Mental disorders, addictions and suicides
Loss of self-confidence and isolation can promote depression, anxiety and stress. “The pandemic has only accentuated this feeling of ill-being”, explains Luc Biecq. The survey revealed that 41.91% of job seekers surveyed said they felt depressed since the start of this period of inactivity, while 18.51% were in this state before being unemployed. .
“These situations can also encourage the emergence of addictive habits. 20.6% of people say that, since they have been unemployed, they have developed habits that are harmful to their health, such as taking alcohol or tobacco”, reported the associations. Luc Biecq explains that people who are unemployed are also more likely to develop drug addiction.
“The psychiatrist Michel Debout demonstrated the link between unemployment and the number of suicides. He explained that a strong stigmatization of the unemployed resulted in a high suicide rate”emphasizes the author of the book Licensee’s self-defense guide, from deflagration to reconstruction.
Proposals to combat these effects of unemployment on health
In the survey carried out by the four associations, job seekers demand free and regular access to a psychological assistance service at the time of the termination of the employment contract, one year after the start of unemployment and then after two years. unemployment for those who, by this deadline, would not have found a job.
“In general, the entourage of people deprived of employment does not manage to help them because they do not understand what the unemployed are really going through. Problem: there are few structures that can support them. Ideally, the Social security issues a voucher or a check to job seekers so that they can consult a psychologist free of charge”, suggests Luc Biecq. It also proposes setting up workshops that allow unemployed people to meet and regain self-esteem.
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