Issues@Hand

AFA initiatives, Christian activism, news briefs

September 2014 – Gallup randomly polled 356,599 Americans in 2013. Of those polled, 18,322 were unemployed adults. 

According to the poll, 12.4% of unemployed Americans were receiving treatment for depression as compared to 5.6% of those with full-time jobs. The likelihood of depression increased with the number of months unemployed. (See chart.)

This Gallup poll raises further concerns when considering a 2011 study conducted by Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University. Long-term unemployed participants expressed shame and embarrassment that caused them to isolate themselves from family and friends. 

A struggling economy is leaving a tragic number of Americans suffering from psychological, physical and social health issues that will affect their ability to obtain and hold jobs in the future. 

Clay McLean, biblical counselor featured in the March 2014 issue of AFA Journal, shed light on these disturbing figures: “There is not a pill that will magically do away with the emotional struggle that goes with hard times. It takes perseverance. Such perseverance can only arise out of faith. And faith can only arise out of a relationship with God.” 

gallup.com, 6/9/14