The influence of unemployment on mental health problems

To evaluate the relationship between unemployment and mental health problems. Crossover study, using systematic sampling of medical records. Health District in the province of Barcelona. 189 medical records from 1,549 unemployed people, and another 189 paired for age and gender of people in work, were included in the study. The unemployed group had between 1.3% and 18.8% more people with mental health problems than the in-work group. There were no significant differences between the two groups as to their use of primary care health services. It was established that there is a connection between unemployment and mental health problems. Prospective studies to follow cases might contribute more data on the cause and effect relationship.