Research shows that unhealthy goods – such as alcohol and social media – are linked to poor mental health

‘Unhealthy goods’ such as tobacco, alcohol, ultra-processed foods, social media and fossil fuels, as well as the consequences of fossil fuel consumption such as climate change and air pollution, are linked to depression, suicide and self-harm, according to the report. to a study published on August 28 in PLOS Global Public Health by Kate Dun-Campbell of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, and colleagues.

Worldwide, approximately one in eight people currently live with a mental disorder. These disorders – including depression, suicide, anxiety and other diseases and disorders – can have many underlying causes. Some of these causes could be related to commercial determinants of health: the way commercial activities and goods affect health and equality.

Commercial health determinants can be specifically unhealthy, such as alcohol or tobacco consumption, unhealthy diets and the use of fossil fuels.

To better understand how these unhealthy goods can impact mental health, this study’s authors conducted an overarching synthesis of 65 review studies that examined links between six specific goods: tobacco, alcohol, ultra-processed foods, gambling, social media, and fossil fuels .

The author has also included studies on the mental health impacts of fossil fuel use, such as climate change and air pollution.

The umbrella review found evidence of links between depression and alcohol, tobacco, gambling, social media, ultra-processed foods and air pollution. Alcohol, tobacco, gambling, social media, climate change and air pollution were linked to suicide, and social media was also linked to self-harm. Climate change and air pollution were also linked to anxiety.

The review brought together many different methodologies and measurements, but could not determine the underlying cause of the negative mental health outcomes. But the results indicate that unhealthy products should be taken into consideration when researchers try to understand and improve mental health problems.

The authors add: “Our research highlights that there is already compelling evidence of the negative impact of unhealthy products on mental health, despite important gaps in understanding the impact of wider commercial practices.”