The relationship between mental health and social mobility

There is an increasing amount of research conducted into mental health, its potential causes and the impact it can have on people's lives. However, there is a gap in understanding the links between mental health and social mobility: is there a relationship, and if there is, can causality be determined?

The Social Mobility Commission is inviting proposals to undertake a study into the links between mental health and social mobility. This research forms part of the Social Mobility Commission's role to produce relevant research that provides new data and insights on social mobility in the UK.

There are a range of factors that can influence a person's chances of suffering from mental illness, and mental illness itself is a label that encompasses a broad range of illnesses. The research will investigate the potential impact these might have on the likelihood of a person being socially mobile. The research should consider whether being socially mobile, either upwards or downwards, can impact on a person's mental health, either positively or negatively. This work compliments a similar project for which we are inviting proposals regarding social mobility and poor physical health.