A RESEARCH conducted by the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) has revealed that running government grant programs to support and reduce the burden on unemployed people can help reduce the level of stress in their minds.
As this happens, debate continues in different countries about the merits and demerits of introducing the Basic Income Grant, which is also known as Universal Basic Income, which is a grant from the government to help people who lack job opportunities.
This study sponsored by the Welcome Trust, and published in the International Journal of Mental Health, was conducted by a team led by Ms Joyce Mlay from UKZN – in collaboration with Dr Lise Jami Jamieson from the University of Witwatersrand, Professor Thirusha Naidu, Dr Busisiwe Bhengu, Professor Saeeda Paruk, Professor Bonginkosi Chiliza, Professor Jonathan Burns, Dr Richard Lessels and UKZN Professors.
In the study, it was examined how and to what extent giving money can help people who are mentally enslaved due to the stress of life challenges, which is caused by the fact that they are unemployed.
Research presentations were made using information gathered from different hospitals across KwaZulu-Natal, where young people aged 18 to 29 who were unemployed and admitted to them for mental health conditions were interviewed.
Narrating some of the methods they used to conduct this study, Ms. Mlay said that part of the patients they were researching were given R1 350 per month for three months, which made it clear that if they have money, even if it is not that much – but it helps them to have the motivation to use their medication correctly, and that their health is not too difficult as they have no money at all.
He said they also noticed that many young people with mental illnesses face many challenges including lack of fare, hunger and job opportunities, all of which make them unable to take care of themselves properly.
“This research has made us realize that if the burden of money on people is not reduced, it can help reduce their level of mental stress, and also enable people to live a normal and proper life,” said Ms. Mlay.
Mrs. Mlay also revealed that she and her colleagues said in unison that starting now to make plans to pass these grants can help a lot to people who need them, although it won’t be something that can change a person’s life and it won’t drown them, but it has a big role to play in reducing the burden on life and mind.