Improving the mental health of people who are unemployed: issues and strategies

In June, Dr Vanessa Rose from CHETRE (University of NSW) and coordinator of Community STaR presented a seminar on Improving the mental health of people who are unemployed. Vanessa presented over 15 years of research undertaken by CHETRE on unemployment and health. People who are unemployed commonly report symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress and worry about money, relationships and job prospects. These mental health issues then act as barriers to returning to work, affecting motivation and trapping people in a cycle of depression.

Practical strategies presented related to ensuring people who are unemployed have access to ‘the vitamins of work’ and self-help resilience techniques in job search and interviews drawn from cognitive behaviour therapy. These techniques are taught in a new training program for people who are unemployed, called ‘Walk the Talk: surviving unemployment, staying healthy and getting a job.

For more information about unemployment and mental health or the Walk the Talk program please contact us on community2168star@gmail.com.