The human cost of austerity

A spike in the suicide rates in Europe and the US has been linked to the financial crisis and austerity measures, reports the Independent. Richard Garside, CCJS director, is quoted in the piece 

'Richard Garside, director of the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies, said research showed economic shocks were “seriously bad for the health”. He said: “When people face economic hardship, and the stress and uncertainty that comes in its wake, they can react in different ways. Some will take it out on others, getting into fights, assaulting their partners, perpetrating homicides. Violence can also be turned inwards, leading to depression, distress and, for some, suicide. Whatever the economic arguments in favour of austerity, the rise in suicide rates is one of the clearest signs of its human cost,” Mr Garside added.'

In 2007, Dr David Stuckler gave a lecture to the Centre on the public health impacts of a financial crisis.