Background: Social inequalities in health are a significant challenge in Norway. To meet these challenges, we need research that can give us better insight and understanding so that we have greater opportunity to prevent and take action. Researches are showing a relationship between socioeconomic factors and mental health, it is therefore desirable to obtain empirical data from people living with such experiences. Purpose and key questions: The purpose of this study is to get insight and understanding of how socioeconomic factors affect people with impaired mental health, capturing their experience is central in this study. The key questions are: 1) How do individuals experience that their reduced economic resources affect their mental health? 2) What gives meanings and strength fore these individuals, and is there something that can be improved? Method and selection: Qualitative research interview was used to collect data from five participants. The participants are individuals who have or have had experience with impaired mental health. They also have or have been active users of low-threshold centers for people struggling with mental health problems in the southern region of Norway. Results: Reduced economic resources is a factor that affects the individual’s mental health in a negative grade, health exacerbation, insecurity, reduced autonomy and increased psychological distress. Activity has a countervailing effect, it provides a meaningful existence and improves or stabilizes the subjective experience of their own mental health. There are indicators that says that information about offers that exist in the community happens by coincidence. Conclusion: Economy is experienced by the individuals as a crucial factor affecting their mental health. The individual’s are experience a meaningful life with socializing and fellowship when they are using the low-threshold center. Lack of information may possibly lead to exclusion of potential users. Keywords: mental health, social inequality, Kjell Underlid, Aron Antonovsky, economy, activity.

Masteroppgave folkehelsevitenskap- Universitetet i Agder, 2014