A local social agency would give a regular retreat for the unemployed lead by a psychologist who had been unemployed for three months once. It stressed being positive and keep looking and shortly you would find work, and your life would again have meaning. The psychologist would talk about his months of mental anguish and how in the end he had found work.
We took a group of unemployed people there and had a great time, free food, excellent facilities, wonderful setting, coffee time and treats and amusing talks. Our group was never invited back. We seemed to lack the high seriousness and moral earnestness and mental anguish that people who lack paid work ought to feel.
The point is simply self-worth. Our focus was on building a group where a person was worthwhile and valued. As long as you believe in your heart that only people with paid work are worthwhile human beings then unemployment is going to be an anguish and a humiliation and a despair.
And most of the people in our group were employed in unpaid work. It is amazing how much unpaid work there is.