they find that over the shortrun higher unemployment is associated with lower overall mortality but high unemployment over longer periods of time is associated with higher mortality data from the state of pennsylvania reveals that the impact of a job loss on mortality rates persist for years after the event with an estimated loss in life expectancy of years for a worker displaced at age forty sullivan and von wachter on the one hand economic recessions can lead to higher health care needs particularly in areas such as mental health which may in turn lead to higher health care utilisation