In any given year, 7% of Americans suffer from a mood disorder. When economic times are tough, that number increases sharply. Job losses add to financial stress and increase rates of divorce.

Those with depression or stress-related disorders find it difficult to afford therapy or prescription drugs--especially if they're unemployed and have lost their health insurance.

Suicide prevention, always a concern for the social and health care industries, is quickly becoming a priority. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline says it's receiving 35% more calls compared with last year--roughly 13,000 more calls per month. And according to the Los Angeles Times, calls to the busiest suicide hotline in Los Angeles have increased by 60% over the past year. It's estimated that people with mood disorders are 12 to 20 times more likely to commit suicide than those without a mood disorder.

As expected, low-income workers are hit hardest. Unemployed middle and high-income workers can often live off savings for months, while less-educated workers living paycheck to paycheck suffer almost immediately. Some are forced to spend their child's college savings fund to pay bills; others are cashing in their life insurance policies or retirement funds to make ends meet. Too often, people simply can't raise enough money and lose their homes. Families are forced to move in with relatives, increasing tension as two or even three generations struggle to share a single home.

But the mental health crisis isn't exclusive to Americans. Nick Clegg, Liberal Democrat leader and British Member of Parliament, warned that a major recession will lead to an "epidemic of mental distress" across the U.K. He has set forth proposals that would have debt counselors in Britain trained to spot signs of potential mood disorders. Speaking at the University of Sheffield, he explained that "It is the hidden tragedy of a recession that mental illness will surge as people's jobs and homes are increasingly under threat." A home is repossessed every 11 minutes in Britain.

The economic crisis is devastating the quality of mental health worldwide, and many experts predict global financial markets will get worse before they get better. The mental health epidemic is growing more calamitous each day, and will certainly escalate as economic struggles persist.

For information and wellness tips for depression, bipolar disorder and other serious psychological conditions, visit InsWeb.com's mental health resource page.