A Christian financial charity has warned that debt is worsening mental health across the UK.
Christians Against Poverty (CAP) found that 85 per cent of people in debt feel “isolated” due to their financial situation. Over half reported feeling unable to leave their home because of shame, and many said financial anxiety had driven them to thoughts of suicide. Overall, the majority reported suffering with poor mental health linked to money.
The findings come in the context of increasing cultural loneliness, with 11.2 million people across Britain saying they feel chronically lonely, and over 4.6 million saying they have no support network.
CAP’s Head of Mission, Graham McMeekin, told Premier Christian News that recent years have seen the root cause of debt shift from spending habits to a struggle to cover basic necessities such as rent and energy bills. He anticipates changes to Personal Independence Payments (PIP) for some people with disabilities could drive more people into financial trouble.
“For people living with disabilities, we do recognise that you're much more likely to feel isolated,” said Graham. “If there are government changes, then that will have a knock-on impact – but we've yet to see that in fruition, because those changes have not currently been implemented.”
McMeekin emphasised that churches are uniquely able to address the impacts of poverty, as they can take both a practical and pastoral approach. “Debt is so often hidden,” he told Premier. “The government don't have the answers, and can't have the answers, whereas the local church can get alongside people face-to-face.”
One person who has been lifted out of poverty-related depression is CAP client Nicki.
“The loneliness is terrible, I wouldn’t wish it on anybody,” she told Premier.
Finding debt advice through a church group helped Nicki find faith, and eventually break through cycles of addiction. She now works alongside CAP and is a volunteer at her church community centre.
“There is help,” she said. “Speak up, because someone is there to listen.”