Credit crunch could leave socially excluded 'even further out in the cold' » Health » 24dash.com

The current financial climate could leave already socially excluded people even further out in the cold, according to a leading psychiatrist.

Professor Pamela Taylor, Professor of Forensic Psychiatry in the Department of Psychological Medicine at Cardiff University’s Wales College of Medicine, will issue the warning at The Salvation Army’s The Seeds of Exclusion Symposium at Westminster Central Hall in London today.

Professor Taylor will be commenting on The Seeds of Exclusion, a recent piece of in-depth research with nearly 450 people living in Salvation Army homeless centres undertaken by The Salvation Army with the University of Kent and Cardiff University.

The research identified high levels of mental health problems as one of the leading factors in people becoming socially excluded and homeless.

“Many of the factors which we found to be associated with homelessness, such as fractures in family life and availability of alcohol and other substances, are on the increase. The current financial climate could leave the already socially excluded even further out in the cold,” Professor Taylor warns.  

The Rt Hon. Iain Duncan Smith MP, Chairman of the Centre for Social Justice, and the Rt Hon. Stephen Timms MP, Financial Secretary, HM Treasury and Labour Party Vice Chair for Faith Groups, are among leading politicians, third sector organisations and academics also participating in The Seeds of Exclusion Symposium at Westminster Central Hall, London.

The Seeds of Exclusion report from The Salvation Army, which is one of the leading providers of social welfare provision after the government, also identifies poor childhood relationships as a key cause of social exclusion and warns that a new generation of children risks becoming socially excluded and even homeless unless urgent action is taken to tackle poor parenting.

Bob Reitemeier, Chief Executive of The Children’s Society, will highlight the need for society also as a whole to address growing inequalities which affect children and young people.

“We know that children who have poor schooling, housing and low standards of living are more likely to experience mental health difficulties than other children. This is unacceptable in Britain today and to change this requires much more social action by all of us,” Mr Reitemeier will say.

The Seeds of Exclusion report, produced with the University of Kent and Cardiff University, was based on an in-depth survey of 438 homeless people using Salvation Army homelessness services across the UK.

The research found a high proportion of homeless people surveyed had a disruptive childhood, and suffered abuse and problematic relationships with their family and friends both now and in the past.

It also identified mental health issues and the problems people face when 'transitioning' from controlled environments to independent living as key 'seeds' of social exclusion.

The report challenges government, society and The Salvation Army itself to do more to address the causes and outcomes of social exclusion. It also highlights the importance of the role of third sector groups, including The Salvation Army, who currently provide much of the support being received by this marginalised and largely forgotten group.

More details about The Seeds of Exclusion can be found at www.salvationarmy.org.uk/seeds