Unemployment leads to underestimated health problems

September 21, 2018.

Cardiovascular pathologies, addictions, worsening of chronic diseases: being unemployed is bad for both moral and physical health. These problems are however mostly underestimated, according to the association Solidarités nouvelles face au unemployment.

Underestimated pathologies caused by unemployment

The impacts of unemployment on the health of job seekers are numerous and yet underestimated, according to a report by the association Solidarités nouvelles face au unemployment (SNC), published this Thursday, September 20, 2018. The association calls on the authorities public and their claims better support for those she calls “job seekers” “.

The association points out in particular the lack of information of health professionals and institutional actors. As proof, the SNC reveals that there has been, in ten years, that three French studies published in journals of international audience. The SNC also emphasizes the financial difficulties which obviously have consequences. Indeed, they also give up sometimes essential care, not to mention an often less balanced diet and a decrease in physical activity.

Between 10,000 and 14,000 deaths per year attributable to unemployment

A study published in 2015 by Inserm researcher Pierre Meneton had however already alerted by assessing “ between 10,000 and 14,000 »deaths per year the number of deaths attributable to unemployment, which is much more than the number of road deaths, for example.

In the end, SNC recommends better information for the unemployed on their health rights, improvement of their complementary coverage or actions against isolation. SNC would also like to secure jobless periods between contracts, more training for job seekers and support for access to work for people in greatest difficulty.

Marie-Eve Wilson-Jamin

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