Unemployment and ill-health link highlighted by Dundee figures

30 June 2010

Marlyn Glen has highlighted the effects of unemployment on health with recent research indicating that being unemployed for more than six months has the same effect on health as smoking 200 cigarettes a day.
 
Ms. Glen said,
 
"Employment helps protect both physical and psychological health.
 
"Being out of work affects morale, self-worth, and long term unemployment is particularly damaging.
 
" That’s why active intervention by the government to support business and the economy is absolutely essential."
 
Official figures indicate that there are  1,740 people in Dundee who have been unemployed for 6 months or more.
 
(This figure does not include people who are claiming incapacity benefits or others who may be out of work but not eligible for Job Seeker's Allowance.)
 

 
Source of research : link