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