Economic participation

One of the ways in which VicHealth promotes mental health and wellbeing is by funding projects designed to increase people’s access to basic resources required for living.

Through these activities, people are provided with opportunities to:

• Participate in community and group activities
• Build self-esteem and confidence
• Develop skills
• Increase levels of self determination and control
• Increase access education and employment

When people are supported, respected, valued and have access to basic resources, they do well at school, in work, with friends, and have improved mental health.

What is the link between access to economic resources and mental health?

People with low education levels, low status occupations and low incomes have relatively poorer mental health than their higher status and more affluent counterparts.

Paid work is seen as crucial in a practical sense because it provides essential income. It also has psychological benefits, provides a recognised role in society and contributes to a sense of personal and social identity.

Project and program activity

• Whitelion employment project 
• Indigenous school-to-work project

Research

• Rural refugee relocation project 
• Workplace stress in Victoria - developing a systems approach