Gestor bibliográfico Crisis y Salud

The last four years have been tough for everyone. Although we assumed that increased workloads and financial worries had affected the nation's health to a certain extent, we wanted to hear from GPs about what they believed was happening on the ground based on their daily experiences in their practices. The results are particularly insightful and show the extent to which the economy is not only affecting the average person on the street but also the GPs that treat them. The GPs we surveyed felt that worries over financial security coupled with many people working longer hours have raised our stress levels. This has not only led to an increase in various mental health disorders but has also influenced other aspects of our life and wellbeing - from family planning through to levels of exercise. The middle class has been especially affected by the turbulence of the economic recession - amongst all of the conditions that were investigated, GPs routinely associated the increases they've seen with middle Britain. But these pressures are not limited to one demographic either - married women and single women were both as likely to request a termination due to financial concerns. It's a particularly tough challenge for time-poor GPs who are faced with many patients who just need someone to talk to. Their only real option in the immediate term is to prescribe medication, which of course is rarely the solution.