Question

people who live in poverty are at increased risk of mental illness compared to their economically stable peers. their lives are stressful. they are both witness to and victims of more violence and trauma than those who are reasonably well - off, and they are at high risk of poor general health and malnutrition. the converse is also true: when people are mentally ill, they are at increased risk of becoming and/or staying poor. they have higher health costs, difficulty getting and retaining jobs, are less productive at work, and suffer the social stigma and isolation of mental illness.

• \poverty and mental health: can the 2 - way connection be broken?\

esther entin
which statement best summarizes this passage?
○ poverty increases the risk for mental illness.
○ poverty and mental illness are not interconnected.
○ poverty and mental illness lead to malnutrition.
○ poverty increases exposure to violence and trauma.

Explanation:

• Analyze Option 1: The passage states "People who live in poverty are at increased risk of mental illness" and also "When people are mentally ill, they are at increased risk of becoming and/or staying poor", showing a two - way connection where poverty increases mental illness risk (and vice versa). This option captures a key part of the summary.
• Analyze Option 2: The passage clearly shows a connection between poverty and mental illness, so this option is incorrect.
• Analyze Option 3: The passage says poverty leads to poor health and malnutrition, and mental illness is related to poverty, but it does not say that poverty and mental illness together lead to malnutrition. This option misinterprets the passage.
• Analyze Option 4: While the passage mentions that poor people are exposed to more violence and trauma, this is just one aspect of how poverty affects them, not the main summary of the passage which is about the relationship between poverty and mental illness.

Answer:

A. Poverty increases the risk for mental illness.