Poverty and mental health: a review to inform the Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s Anti-Poverty Strategy

Mental health is shaped by the wide-ranging characteristics of the social, economic and physical environments in which people live. Successfully supporting the mental health and well-being of people living in poverty, and reducing the number of people with mental health problems experiencing poverty, require engagement with this complexity. This review presents a conceptual framework for understanding the relationship between poverty and mental health, and draws together: This review recognises the corrosive impact of stigma and discrimination on people experiencing mental health problems and those living in poverty. It proposes the integration of social contact approaches around mental health and poverty within current anti-stigma campaigns and initiatives.