People with mental health problems have been disproportionately affected by the recession, which has led to even more social exclusion among this already vulnerable group, a new study indicates.

According to UK researchers, since the beginning of the recession, unemployment figures have risen much faster among people with mental health problems throughout Europe.

They assessed data on more than 20,000 people in 27 EU countries in 2006 and again in 2010. Factors such as age, gender, education level, employment and mental health were considered.

The study found that in 2006, the unemployment rate among people without mental health problems was 7.1%, but this rose to 12.7% among those with mental health problems.

By 2010, the unemployment rate among those without mental health problems had risen to 9.8%, but among those with mental health problems, it reached 18.2%.

This corresponded to an increase of 2.7% for people without mental health problems, but a 5.5% increase for those with mental health problems.

"The economic recession has had enormous impact across much of Europe, but there is little information about the specific impact of the recession on groups who are already vulnerable to social exclusion, specifically, people with mental health problems.

"This is the first study to show that the European economic crisis has had a profound impact on people with mental health problems, compared to those without," explained the study's lead author, Dr Sara Evans-Lacko, of King's College London.

Meanwhile the study also found that these employment gaps were even greater among certain sub-groups. For example, men with mental health problems and those with less education were much more likely to be unemployed after the recession. In fact in 2010, almost 22% of men with mental health problems were unemployed.

The study also noted that stigma played a big role in contributing to unemployment rates among those with mental health problems. This was especially true in countries where people with these problems were perceived as dangerous.

"Our study emphasises that one important implication of stigma and discrimination is exclusion from employment. During periods of economic recession, attitudes to people with mental health problems may harden, further deepening social exclusion.

"Governments need to be aware of these risks, and employers need to be aware of their legal duty to comply with equality legislation to support people with mental health problems coming into, and staying in, employment," said study co-author, Prof Graham Thornicroft, also of King's College London.

Details of these findings were published in the journal, PLOS ONE.

For more information on mental health, see our Depression Clinic here