Giving unemployed young people living with psychosis a small monthly cash payment may help improve their mental health
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Giving a small monthly cash payment to unemployed young people living with psychosis may help improve their mental health and keep them on treatment.
This is according to a new study by the University of KwaZulu-Natal, which looked at whether income support can make a difference to recovery outcomes for patients with severe mental illness.
The pilot study, funded by the Wellcome Trust and published in the International Journal of Mental Health, followed 60 patients aged between 18 and 29 in public hospitals across KwaZulu-Natal.
Half of the participants received standard psychiatric care, while the other half were given R1,350 per month for three months in addition to their treatment.
Researchers found that those who received the cash support were more likely to take their medication and reported better day-to-day functioning than those who did not.
"Many young people with psychosis face significant socio-economic challenges, including the lack of money for transport, food insecurity, and unemployment, all of which can hinder consistent access to care," the university noted.
The university added that "researchers argue that these findings speak directly to national policy discussions around expanding social protection, as all participants indicated that financial support would help them stay engaged in treatment."
“This research shows that when you reduce financial stress, you enable better health-seeking behaviour. Mental health recovery does not happen in isolation from social and economic conditions,” Professor Andrew Tomita, senior author of the study at UKZN, said.
The university also said, "Although the trial was small and not designed to conclusively measure long-term clinical outcomes, the researchers say it provides critical early evidence that addressing poverty could play a vital role in mental health recovery.
"By demonstrating that relatively modest cash transfers can improve adherence to treatment, the study suggests that a basic income grant could play a preventative role, thereby reducing hospital readmissions and long-term healthcare costs."
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