Mental Health UK has launched a pioneering service designed to help the UK’s eight million[i] people experiencing both poor mental health and money problems.

Mental Health and Money Advice will be the first service to combine support for people with mental illness who are struggling with their money, as well as people whose money problems are affecting their mental health.

Recent research with over 1,500 professionals and people affected by poor mental health highlighted the need for specialist support.

Of those surveyed nearly nine out of ten (87%) wanted answers to mental health and money questions. Almost eight out of ten (78%) wanted this information provided on a website while half of respondents (49%) wanted to speak to a trained member of staff over the phone.

Mental Health and Money Advice will be delivered by Mental Health UK, a new charity created by four mental health organisations:Rethink Mental Illness, Hafal, Support in Mind Scotland and MindWise. The launch of the service is made possible due to over £3 million of fundraising from Lloyds Banking Group as part of the Group’s two year charity partnership with Mental Health UK.

The free website provides a range of information, practical advice and tools such as template letters and calculators, tailored across the UK to ensure the advice is relevant and accurate. In addition, the website will feature stories and advice from people with first-hand experience of mental health and money problems. The service also includes an advice line which charities and debt organisations can use to refer people for specialist support.

Tanya Partridge, 33 from Bristol, would have appreciated having a service like this when she needed it. She explains, “I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety following a period when I was in completely unmanageable debt.

“I was constantly anxious as it was on my mind all day every day. I couldn’t see a way out. I felt worthless, useless for getting myself into that situation. I had panic attacks and withdrew from people which impacted on my work life and friendships.

“I did get help from a variety services but they couldn’t help with the mental health side of things. I remember crying when speaking to them and no one even asked if I was OK.

“I can definitely see how helpful a mental health and money advice service would have been. I am now doing better now, but you really can’t underestimate how much financial stress can impact on your mental health.”

 


“Money problems and mental health issues like anxiety and depression can create a vicious cycle where problems can spiral. At its worst this can lead to debt, family breakdown and even homelessness.

“This is why we are launching this first of its kind service; to provide some of the eight million people who are affected with somewhere to turn to. Somewhere they can get advice they can rely on and specialist mental health support,” said Brian Dow, Managing Director of Mental Health UK.

 

Click here to visit the Mental Health & Money Advice service.

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Nisha Kotecha is the Founder of Good News Shared. Having worked and volunteered for charities in the UK for over 10 years, Nisha is on a mission to highlight how amazing charities are.

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