Poverty alleviation should be integrated into mental health recovery in rural China

Abstract

Objectives: To explore the change and impact of poverty status on mental health recovery among people with severe mental illness (SMI) in rural China Background: It is unknown about the change and impact of poverty status on mental health recovery among persons with SMI in rural China. This study aimed to explore the change and impact of poverty status on mental health recovery among people with SMI in Xinjin, Chengdu, China. Materials and Methods: Data from two mental health surveys using identical methods and ICD-10 in 1994 and 2015 in the same six townships of Xinjin, Chengdu, China (population ≥ 15 years old: n=152,776) were analyzed. Results and Conclusions: Compared with the annual net income per person in population in Xinjin, the annual net income per person in persons with SMI was significantly lower in both 1994 and 2015 (p<0.001). Persons with SMI had significantly higher rates of poor family economic status in 2015 (65.2%) than that in 1994 (48.2%) (p<0.001). Persons with poor family economic status had significantly higher rates of fewer family caregivers, never being treated, worse mental status (symptoms/social functioning), and lower rates of taking antipsychotic drugs and once hospitalized (p<0.001). Socioeconomic development in China have improved the family economic status of population, but relative poverty of persons with SMI have become more severe. Relative poverty has prohibited the mental health care and recovery of persons with SMI. Cultural-specific targeted poverty alleviation programs should be integrated into the mental health recovery of people with SMI.