A quick disclaimer: you are not responsible. Wellbeing tips and self-help books only go so far. But there are small steps you can take to feel happy.
“A lot of things can be out of your control,” adds McLeod. “But learning how mental health and money are related may help if you’re struggling. Just take it step by step.”
With the help of experts from Mind, Samaritans, Mental Health UK, Anxiety UK, Center for Mental Health and Money and Pensions Service, we have created a guide to help you fight mental health during the cost of living crisis.
Your support will change lives.Find out what we can do to help more people by signing up for a subscription
Make sure you are claiming qualified support
If you have money issues, you may be eligible for additional support. This could be from governments, energy suppliers, local governments, or charities. Even the smallest amount of support, whether it’s cash or advice, may help ease your anxiety.
You are eligible for benefits if you are working, unemployed, sick or disabled, a parent, a young person, an elderly person, or a veteran.
“For many of us with mental health issues, it can sometimes feel like the entire benefit system was not designed to meet our needs,” says a Mind spokesperson. But it’s important to know that there are benefits to support you, and if you’re struggling to manage or just need a little extra, you have the right to charge them.”
The Mind website provides advice and guidance on claiming rewards. You can also use the Turn2Us Benefits Calculator to see which benefits you can claim.
The government’s Help for Households website explains what assistance is available, including paying your living expenses. Our website also has guides on cost of living assistance available from governments, energy companies, councils, charities and food banks.
Connect with someone at least once a day
Many of us struggle with money and mental health woes, but we often feel lonely.Laura Peters, head of mental health and financial advice at Mental Health UK, said: says. But isolation only worsens mental health. ”
She suggests doing your best to connect with someone at least once a day, whether it’s a simple conversation with a neighbor or a phone call with a loved one.
Talk to someone you trust about your mental health
You don’t have to go through this alone. Talking to someone, such as a loved one, a support her worker, a health care professional such as a family doctor, or a helpline like Samaritan may help.
Mubeen Bhutta, Head of Policy, Communications and Campaigns at Samaritans said:
“We are here to listen 24/7, day or night. We provide a safe space to speak up. I don’t judge or dictate what I want to do, but I just listen. We know it can make you feel good.”
Call Samaritans toll-free on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, or visit their website.
Remember you are not responsible
Ed Davie, director of policy and communications for the Center for Mental Health, said: For example, childhood has a huge impact on mood and health.
People often have little control over these factors, and the feeling of being out of control is itself a mental health risk. That is why it is so important that governments and other groups do more to prevent the poverty, housing problems, discrimination and childhood trauma that cause and exacerbate disease. ”
You can take back a little bit of control by contacting your MP or joining a campaign like Enough is Enough and Warm this Winter to persuade your government to act.
Make healthy choices when you can
As Davis says, it’s much easier to make positive health choices when people aren’t stressed or limited by lack of money or time. But he wants to be physically active as much as possible (ideally in a natural setting like a park), connect with others, learn new skills, contribute to his community, eat healthy and smoke. Quit drinking and get help if needed to cut back on drinking.All of these have been shown to reduce mental health risks.
Peters adds: See if there’s a free activity or community support near you that you can attend, and make time each day for something that helps with your mental health. ”
Try Exercises to Relieve Anxiety
“During difficult times, worries can easily dominate the day and make it difficult to do the things you need to do,” adds Peters.
One technique that helps, she says, is to set aside about 30 minutes of “worry time” not too close to bedtime. Whenever you find yourself worrying about something throughout the day, write it down and then try to let it go until a scheduled worry time later. can be mitigated.
Peters says it can sometimes feel like we’re constantly bombarded with bad news, so don’t let yourself fall into the cycle of scrolling doom.
“When something seems overwhelming, think about what you can control and take positive steps to change it. You can see exactly what goes in and out.”
If anxiety starts to overwhelm you, Peters suggests trying a simple grounding exercise. Think about what you can hear.
A representative from Anxiety UK said a range of self-help tools and resources are available through websites, apps and other outlets to help teach grounding techniques and simple breathing exercises to help calm and relax.
The charity offers a variety of free resources and self-help tools, free downloadable information and fact sheets from its website, free webinars to watch, and access to low-cost treatment and other services.
create positive money habits
Mind suggests taking time to think about how you feel about money and why. You can do this by keeping a journal of your spending habits and how you feel before and after.
“Doing this may help you understand your habits and patterns and help reduce some of your anxiety,” says the spokesperson.
Mind also advises people to make a list of all the essentials they need to spend money on each month. This could be rent or mortgage payments, utility bills, phone bills, groceries, etc.
While doing this, it can be helpful to have all your important documents in one place so they’re easy to find. This can be letters, bank statements, payslips, invoices, receipts, etc.
You can also set aside regular time to think about tasks that need to be done with money, such as paying bills. And plan some relaxing activities after you’re done!
Seek help if you need it for your mental health
Help is out there. Financial assistance is available from free professional debt advice agencies such as National Debtline, StepChange and Citizens Advice. They help them escape from paying interest on their debts under a government plan called Breathing Space. They can also look into your financial situation to see if there is a solution for your debt.
“If you’re struggling with money and mental health, it’s very important to seek help as soon as possible,” says Sarah Murphy, senior health lead at Money and Pensions Service (MaPS). “By reaching out, you can get someone you trust to share the burden and begin your journey to recovery. Taking that first step can be life-changing.”
MaPS, sponsored by the Ministry of Work and Pensions, has a MoneyHelper service that provides information on how to seek help. If you prefer to call 0800 011 3797 you can also speak confidently with a trained professional free of charge.
The Mind, Anxiety UK, Mental Health UK and Samaritans websites have helpful advice and resources if you are struggling with mental health. You can also check the NHS website for support availability in your area, but if you need urgent help, call 999.
“You may be feeling hopeless right now,” says Peters. ”
Get the latest news and insights on how Big Issue magazine is made. Sign up for the Inside Big Issue newsletter
