DETERMINANTS AND IMPACT OF ECONOMIC CRISIS ON THE MENTAL HEALTH OF POPULATION OF SPAIN

OBJECTIVE. To analyze the influence of the economic crisis on health indicators in Spain and the specific consequences in mental health of population, based on the best scientific evidence available. METHODOLOGY. Literature search in PubMed, ENFISPO, LILACS, SciELO and Google Scholar, selecting articles about economic crisis and mental health in Spanish population. RESULTS. Periods of economic recession change aspects such as the level of welfare, quality of life and health, and make a negative impact on the physical and mental health of citizens and their families. Spain has been one of the European countries with the worst consequences due to different factors such as the economic crisis that began back in 2007, the high unemployment rate, the significant decline in public finances and the increase in private debt. These negative consequences are associated with increasing psychological stress and use of mental health services, confirming an increase in levels of anxiety / depression and a decrease in self-esteem, which in turn would be related to an increase in suicide attempts and deaths, as well as an increase in alcohol consumption and the prescription of psychotropic and antidepressant drugs, since unemployment and associated factors are generally related to a higher prevalence of mental disorders, particularly depression. CONCLUSION. The effects of the crisis will heavily depend on the institutional context and the structuring of civil society with social protection mechanisms, in order to, on the one hand, maintain the health of population, and on the other hand, pave the way to economic recovery by efficient social spending.