Social inequality impacts upon mental health, with the less educated more likely to have psychological problems but less likely to seek treatment

Mental health is a key policy issue across Europe. Lucia Fiestas Navarrete, Mahlet Atakilt Woldetsadik and Antoine Flahault take a comprehensive look at the roles education and gender play in mental health problems in 15 European countries. They note that individuals with lower levels of education are more likely to experience psychological problems, but are also less likely to seek treatment by consulting a psychologist or taking medication. The fact that education may function as a proxy for socio-economic status suggests that socially determined inequalities have an impact on mental health outcomes.

• Primary Source

WHO: European Office: Policies and practices for mental health in Europe - meeting the challenges, 2008 http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/96450/E91732.pdf

WHO: Regional Office for Europe: Health topics: Noncommunicable diseases: Mental health http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/noncommunicable-diseases/mental-health

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