Surveys show that the cost of living crisis is undermining the mental health of nearly half of UK adults, with Welsh people being the most unhappy.
A YouGov survey on Prince’s responsible business network, Business in the Community (BITC), found that 61% of adults in Wales said the current economic climate was negatively impacting their mental health, compared to 61% in Scotland. 48% and 47% in England. .
Comparable research suggests that the mental health of working adults in the UK has declined sharply since 2020. Only 35% of people in Wales and Scotland and 36% of people in England say the economic situation is having a negative impact on their mental health.
Citizens Advice Cymru Assistant Director Luke Young said the cost of living crisis is having a severe impact on people across Wales. “We know that financial hardships combined with long-standing problems of poverty leave people feeling unstable and restless,” he said. is living on a budget, which means that after the necessary bills have been paid, there is nothing left.
“This feels precarious for many people. So lack of financial security, lack of confidence in how you will pay if the unexpected happens can affect your emotional health. give.”
Young said the Welsh government’s fuel aid plan was more generous than the British government’s offer, but was due to finish the program next winter. “This is money that really helps people stay on the water,” he said, urging people to contact the charity if they’re having trouble coping.
When the survey asked respondents across the UK if they were worried about paying their bills in the next six months, 64% of adults in Wales agreed, whereas figures in England and Scotland were 53% and 54%, respectively.
In England, people in the East Midlands (57%), Yorkshire and Humber and South West (56%) were most concerned about paying their bills, compared to 49% of adults in London.
BITC has launched an action plan to help businesses mitigate the cost of living crisis. This includes paying a real living wage, allowing staff to work flexibly, assessing the needs of low-income customers, offering affordable products and sharing goods with low-income individuals. Income community, and supply chain support.
Business in the Community Chief Executive Mary Macleod said businesses are also taking a hit, but they can make a real difference to the UK’s 30 million employees. “Our Cost of Living Action Plan provides businesses with the guidance they need to support their most vulnerable employees, customers, and the communities around them,” she said.
