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Aside from seeking help from professionals for mental problems and taking medicine for mental health, support groups like job clubs help reduce depression and anxiety in the unemployed. A recent research claims that support groups like job clubs are effective in lowering depression and anxiety not only in unemployed people but also in people who are experiencing financial hardships.

Published in Psychological Medicine, the study conducted by researchers from the University of Bristol reviewed eleven randomized controlled trials to understand the effectiveness of support groups available for people seeking mental help.

Out of the eleven trials, job clubs showed success in five of the trials assessed. Job clubs is a type of support group where people are trained for different kinds of job skills.

The research found out that people in job clubs reportedly have lower depression scores than people who are not members. The greatest effect of job clubs can be seen on the people who at the start of the trial were identified to be high risk for depression.

Even though the research has proven the effectivity of job clubs in lowering depression, the overall result is very limited and further studies should be conducted to identify and understand effective ways to combat depression and anxiety for people who are unemployed, to be unemployed, or suffering from financial hardships.

"With more public funding cuts ahead, we're likely to see more and more people falling on hard times, and it's vital that we understand how we can help them cope", says Professor David Gunnell who led the study with the collaboration of the National Institute of Health.

The professor also adds that the government should ensure mental health well-being of the people especially during times of economic recession. There has been numerous research accounting the effect of depression and anxiety on unemployed or financially suffering people that lead to self-harm or suicide.