In low-income settings, poverty and mental health are often locked in a vicious cycle. Poor mental health can impair decision-making and reduce productivity, while the stresses of poverty—financial insecurity, food shortages, and environmental hazards—further exacerbate mental illness (Ridley et al 2020). Armed conflict can intensify this cycle: violence and displacement amplify trauma, while the resulting loss of human capital, assets, and jobs pushes households deeper into poverty.
We investigate whether combining psychological support with economic assistance can break this cycle, and how the effectiveness of these interventions shifts in a context of conflict. Read more>>