Academic Institute

Academic Institute

Economic and Social Research Council

Yes

064

The proposed project will examine the economic consequences of mental ill health among informal caregivers in Northern Ireland in terms of employment participation and economic costs. The study will involve an examination of data from the 2001 and 2011 NI Census and mental health prescription data over a one year period. The study aims to address two key research questions: 1) How does intensity of informal caregiving and mental health impact upon employment participation in terms of the following outcomes: a) economic activity, b) industry of employment, and c) hours of work. Analyses will be both cross-sectional and longitudinal in nature. 2) What are the direct and indirect economic costs associated with mental ill health among caregivers over a one year period in terms of a) costs of mental health prescriptions and b) losses in productivity in the workplace. A series of regression based analyses will be used in the first instance to explore the impact of hours of caregiving and mental health (controlling for other key socio-demographic variables) has on employment outcomes, using cross-sectional data. Latent transition analysis within a structural equation modelling framework will then be used in the analysis of stratified sub-populations to examine changes in a range of employment outcomes based on caregiving and mental health status over time, again with controls for key factors such as age and gender.

We envisage that this project will result in a wide range of societal benefits through direct benefits to a range of key stakeholders: 1. Caregivers: By providing an economic evidence base on the implications of mental ill health among informal caregivers, this research will provide a strong argument for the promotion of mental health and associated needs among this cohort. It is anticipated that this research will provide an economic rationale for the investment in preventive strategies and the provision of mental health services and support in both the health and social care sector and by employers. 2. Recipients of informal care: This research will also have an indirect impact on the quality of informal care received in Northern Ireland. Through promotion of mental well‐being among the care‐giving population, caregivers will have increased capacity to carry out their care‐giving role. 3. The Health and Social Care Sector: Through promotion of the needs of informal caregivers, this research will directly impact upon the health and social care sector, who will be increasingly reliant on informal caregivers as a key resource in the provision of care to an ageing and increasingly complex population in terms of their health and social care needs. 4. Employers: This research will firstly provide invaluable evidence on the impact of the care‐giving role and associated needs among employees. Findings will provide a basis for the development of communications and policies regarding for example flexible working hours, the creation of supportive environments and development of infrastructure within the workplace that will support the needs of caregivers. All this in turn will promote increased productivity within the workplace. 5. The UK government and economy: The ultimate aim of this research is to promote investment in ‘mental capital’. An influential Lancet article outlining the key mechanisms which support a country’s economic growth emphasises the importance of having a mentally healthy workforce in order for an economy to flourish economically (Beddington et al., 2008). Investment in the mental wellbeing of informal caregivers will help promote their productivity both in their caregiving role and in the workplace. 6. Community, voluntary and social enterprise (VCSE) sector groups working on carers and caring issues: By running a workshop with VCSE sector researchers working on caring issues, specifically addressing how administrative data can help answer their research questions and develop their evidence base, the team will be contributing to the enhancement of research skills and knowledge of data within the sector, as well as creating valuable links between the sector and academic researchers. This will provide increased pathways to impact for the research, and evidence and knowledge for the third sector.

05/02/2018

TRE