Social exclusion of people with severe mental illness in Switzerland: results from the Swiss Health Survey

Richter, Dirk; Hoffmann, H. (2019). Social exclusion of people with severe mental illness in Switzerland: results from the Swiss Health Survey Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, 28(04), pp. 427-435. Cambridge University Press 10.1017/S2045796017000786

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Aims. People with severe mental illness (SMI) have a high risk of living socially excluded from the mainstream society. Policy initiatives and health systems aim to improve the social situation of people who suffer from mental health disabilities. The aim of this study was to explore the extent of social exclusion (employment and income, social network and social activities, health problems) of people with SMI in Switzerland. Methods. Data from the Swiss Health Survey 2012 were used to compare the social exclusion magnitude of people with SMI with those suffering from severe physical illness, common mental illness and the general population. Results. With the exception of Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, we found a gradient of social exclusion that showed people with SMI to be more excluded than the comparison groups. Loneliness and poverty were widespread among people with SMI. Logistic regression analyses on each individual exclusion indicator revealed that people with SMI and people with severe physical illness were similarly excluded on many indicators, whereas people with common mental illness and the general population were much more socially included. Conclusions. In contrast to political and health system goals, many people with SMI suffer from social exclusion. Social policy and clinical support should increase the efforts to counter exclusionary trends, especially in terms of loneliness and poverty

Item Type:	Journal Article (Original Article)
Division/Institute:	School of Health Professions
Name:	Richter, Dirk0000-0002-6215-6110 and Hoffmann, H.
ISSN:	2045-7960
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Language:	English
Submitter:	Service Account
Date Deposited:	21 Aug 2019 08:46
Last Modified:	21 Aug 2023 14:08
Publisher DOI:	10.1017/S2045796017000786
ARBOR DOI:	10.24451/arbor.5490
URI:	https://arbor.bfh.ch/id/eprint/5490