It's Time to Talk about debt and mental health
Time to Talk Day, on Thursday 2 February, highlights the importance of creating supportive communities by having conversations with family, friends, or colleagues about mental health. The campaign is run by Mind and Rethink Mental Illness and has become the nation’s biggest mental health awareness event in the country.
At PayPlan, we understand that mental health and mental illness can be closely intertwined with debt. Problem debt can be a major worry for many people, and being in a poor financial situation can trigger – or add to – mental health problems.
The following could be signs that someone's mental health is suffering:
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Feeling sad, down or like nothing matters
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Not able to perform daily tasks
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Eating too much or too little
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Frequently tired, low or no energy
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Smoking, drinking or using drugs
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Extreme mood swings, yelling, fighting
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Feeling unusually confused, forgetful, on-edge, angry, upset, worried or scared
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Thinking of harming yourself or others
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Hearing voices or believing things that aren’t true.
5 ways to support a friend having a hard time
1. Express concern and offer support
Letting someone know you're worried is a good way to begin a conversation about mental health – it shows you care about the person, have time for them and that they do not have to avoid discussing difficult things with you.
Listening is an important skill. Ask open questions that start with ‘how’, ‘what’, ‘where’ or ‘when’. This can help people go beyond saying ‘I’m fine,’ which is a common way to deflect interest in such circumstances.
2. Do what you usually do together
Do what you usually do – just make it clear you’re there for them. Do not be afraid to offer kind words and a space to talk, whether by phone, messaging or in person.
You will not always know the full story. There may be reasons why they have found it difficult to ask for help. Just being there can be reassuring for someone who may want to open up later.
Don’t force them to disclose, or force them to get help if they’re not ready. Also don’t go to a doctor on their behalf, though that might feel like the right thing to try. It may lead to them feeling disempowered and less able to speak for themselves.
3. Make use of the support services available
If you need help or are concerned about your health, then get in touch with a medical expert. While we can help to reduce your money worries, here are a number of specialist mental health organisations that may be able to support you:
Frontline19 – the free mental health service for frontline healthcare workers in the UK.
SHOUT – the UK’s first 24/7 text service, which is free on all major mobile networks. It’s a place to go to if you’re struggling to cope and you need immediate help. You can get in touch by texting 85258.
Samaritans – for anyone who needs to talk to somebody anytime they like, in their own way, and off the record – about whatever is getting to them. They don’t have to be suicidal. Call 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org.
Rethink Mental Illness – if you need practical help on issues such as mental health, community care, welfare benefits, medication or living with mental illness. Visit their website to find your local branch.
4. Look after your own mental wellbeing
It can be upsetting to hear someone you care about in distress. Be kind to yourself and take some time to relax or do something you enjoy. You can also be there for them in other ways, like cooking for them, going for a walk or watching a film together. A chat may come more naturally if you are doing something together first.
5. Explore the link between mental health and debt
Debt problems and poor mental health can often be closely intertwined. At PayPlan, 82% of people who contact us for help with their debts say money worries were impacting their mental health at the time. So, as you can imagine, helping people to improve their mental health is a subject very close to our hearts.
Sam, who now works as an adviser at PayPlan, explains how he managed to clear his debts and improve his mental health:“I gave myself sleepless nights, from trying to ignore the [debt] problem and not doing anything about it – which quite honestly was due to pride and embarrassment,” Sam says. “My mental health was affected too as the situation caused me to suffer from severe depression, anxiety and stress.
“My life had changed in just a few months, and I was really struggling – especially as my nan passed away during this time too. I approached the doctor and started getting help. I’m well on the road to recovery, but I think it’s really important to encourage people to speak about their mental health.”
Make a difference on Time to Talk Day
At PayPlan, we’re supporting the Time to Talk campaign through our social media presence and urging people to engage in conversations about mental health and debt.
You can do the same – just by starting the conversation. This could be at your local community centre, your sports club, your workplace and your family or friends. You don’t need a degree in listening to lend an ear.
If you’re struggling with debt repayments, feeling anxious and want to get on top of your finances, remember you can get in touch with PayPlan for free and confidential advice.