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| Charity highlights link between debt and mental health problems | Charity highlights link between debt and mental health problems |
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| A charity has highlighted the extent to which debt affects mental health by revealing that last year it spoke to an average of 5,000 people a month who were suffering from financial problems coupled with either anxiety or depression. | A charity has highlighted the extent to which debt affects mental health by revealing that last year it spoke to an average of 5,000 people a month who were suffering from financial problems coupled with either anxiety or depression. |
| StepChange, a debt charity, said that it uses an online counselling tool to determine which people contacting it might be suffering from anxiety or depression. Of those who were, almost 60% were identified as suffering with severe anxiety or depression, a further 27% had moderate anxiety or depression and 13% mild anxiety or depression. | StepChange, a debt charity, said that it uses an online counselling tool to determine which people contacting it might be suffering from anxiety or depression. Of those who were, almost 60% were identified as suffering with severe anxiety or depression, a further 27% had moderate anxiety or depression and 13% mild anxiety or depression. |
| "These figures emphasise the link between debt and mental health problems" said the charity's director of external affairs, Delroy Corinaldi. "Combined together, these issues can have a debilitating effect on people's lives." | "These figures emphasise the link between debt and mental health problems" said the charity's director of external affairs, Delroy Corinaldi. "Combined together, these issues can have a debilitating effect on people's lives." |
| Debt is not always the singular cause of anxiety or depression but very often plays a significant contributory part. According to a YouGov poll, money was the most common worry across the UK last year, with almost half of all callers to the Samaritans' helpline naming it as their main concern. | Debt is not always the singular cause of anxiety or depression but very often plays a significant contributory part. According to a YouGov poll, money was the most common worry across the UK last year, with almost half of all callers to the Samaritans' helpline naming it as their main concern. |
| Earlier this year, the mother of a student, Toby Thorn, spoke to the Guardian about an apparent connection between her son's university debts and his suicide in 2011. He had left a few words on the back of a letter he had recently received from Barclays when he died. He was £3,000 overdrawn and had a £5,000 student loan to pay off. At his inquest, the coroner said it would be wrong to suggest he had killed himself simply because of his debt, but it was a major contributory factor. | Earlier this year, the mother of a student, Toby Thorn, spoke to the Guardian about an apparent connection between her son's university debts and his suicide in 2011. He had left a few words on the back of a letter he had recently received from Barclays when he died. He was £3,000 overdrawn and had a £5,000 student loan to pay off. At his inquest, the coroner said it would be wrong to suggest he had killed himself simply because of his debt, but it was a major contributory factor. |
| "I think it [the debt] tipped him over the edge," said his mother, Anne Thorn. "He would have put his card in the machine and not been able to get any money out." | "I think it [the debt] tipped him over the edge," said his mother, Anne Thorn. "He would have put his card in the machine and not been able to get any money out." |
| Wednesday's figures from StepChange have been released in conjunction with mental health awareness week. Those with money worries can contact StepChange on 0800 138 1111 or access the online debt remedy tool on its website. The Samaritans' helpline telephone number is 08457 909090. | Wednesday's figures from StepChange have been released in conjunction with mental health awareness week. Those with money worries can contact StepChange on 0800 138 1111 or access the online debt remedy tool on its website. The Samaritans' helpline telephone number is 08457 909090. |