The impact of policies that aim to reduce child poverty on child and maternal mental health and health inequalities (360G-Wellcome-200335_Z_15_Z)

UK child and maternal mental health is poor, with large inequalities between socioeconomic groups. High child poverty rates are a key factor, yet limited evidence exists for how welfare policy changes targeting child poverty impact upon child and maternal mental health and associated inequalities. Policy changes might have adverse or beneficial effects; through direct impact on poverty or indirectly, by increasing employment or more punitive welfare regimes. This project will investigate the effect of changes to the tax credit system on child and maternal mental health from 2000-2016, using innovative methodologies for evaluating natural policy experiments. Goals include; developing a conceptual framework to assess the impact of policy changes over time; measuring the influence of policy on the level, eligibility, and uptake of tax credits across social groups over time and; developing statistical methods for analysing large longitudinal datasets to investigate causal effects of policy changes on income, poverty, and mental health of mothers and children. Findings will expand understanding of policies changes, and how modifying these can reduce mental health inequalities. Engagement with academics, policy makers, and organisations working with low-income families will maximise the research impact. Key words: child and maternal mental health; poverty; policy; tax credits; inequality