| Personal debt is a growing problem in the UK, but is an | | | | The department of health and the environment at the |
| even greater problem for those that suffer mental | | | | Wales Centre for Health is conducting research into |
| illness for a variety of reasons. In many cases it is the | | | | the link between ill health and debt. Director Susan |
| anxiety over the amount of debt they have that has | | | | Malby said: |
| contributed to the mental health issue, but others have | | | | "Most of us are in debt of some kind, but we prefer to |
| got into debt while already suffering from the illness. | | | | call it credit, a much more socially acceptable way of |
| Even now, as would-be lenders become ultra-cautious | | | | describing debt. However, over-indebtedness isn't linked |
| about to whom they lend, credit is still readily available. | | | | uniquely with poor debt management or low-income |
| Advertising regularly espouses the "buy now, pay later" | | | | families. Events such as birth of a child, sudden |
| culture, into which many of us have been drawn. It | | | | unemployment, the death of someone close, long-term |
| now appears impossible to enjoy an everyday life | | | | illness or disability; all significantly increase the chances |
| without incurring some element of debt along the way, | | | | of falling into severe debt." |
| as many struggle to get onto the housing ladder or | | | | The study has found that many who fall into debt |
| afford their drastically increased mortgage payments. | | | | suffer health problems because they can no longer |
| But, while most manage to just keep their head above | | | | afford to eat properly or heat their home. That adds to |
| water, financially, many more are drowning in debt, and | | | | the anxiety they are already feeling and that's when |
| dealing with that throws up many emotional problems. | | | | people can slip into the spiral of hopelessness that |
| The classification of 'over-indebtedness' by the Citizens | | | | in-turn leads to lack of self-esteem at best, or can |
| Advice Bureau includes someone who is "unable to | | | | manifest itself as mental illness in worst case |
| pay their current credit repayments and meet their | | | | scenarios. |
| other commitments without reducing other expenditure | | | | To prevent that Malby recommends that anyone in the |
| below normal minimal levels." Many of the people who | | | | situation where they need help finding appropriate debt |
| fall into that classification will suffer more readily from | | | | solutions, should immediately contact the Citizens |
| depression and ill-health, and that includes mental illness, | | | | Advice Bureau in the first instance, and get back on |
| as well as being more likely to incur even more debt. | | | | the road to financial and emotional well-being. |