PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF COLLIERY CLOSURES

A 'factory closure' type study was conducted by postal survey to asses s the impact of the colliery closure programme on individuals. Two col lieries were studied, one 'threatened' and one 'unthreatened'. Replies were received from 30% of potential subjects. Miners at the threatene d colliery had higher mean GHQ scores and reported greater alcohol con sumption and more recent contact with their general practitioners. Thi s study suggests that threat of unemployment and actual unemployment h as a significant effect on psychological morbidity, potentially harmfu l behaviour and use of general practitioners.