Welfare Rights - Debt Advice Pilot Study

Mental ill health is strongly associated with financial adversity. People with mental health problems in Britain are nearly three times more likely to report debt compared with individuals without such conditions.

Mental health professionals commonly encounter patients who are experiencing financial difficulties and increasing debt but they often lack the knowledge, time and skill to effectively intervene. The reality therefore for many individuals is that their situation is not acted on until a crisis emerges and it can no longer be ignored.

Mind in Bexley have undertaken a pilot research study on debt advice. Thirty adults of working age, with a mental health diagnosis, who were receiving input from voluntary and/or community mental health services and had worries about existing debts, preventing debt, meeting mortgage and other loan repayments were referred to a volunteer debt specialist who worked with the participants on a one to one basis.

The results from the research indicate that debt issues have a significant impact on mental health and specialist debt advice makes a real difference to the health and lives of disadvantaged individuals and can have a crucial role to play in aiding the mental health recovery process. The research concludes that those working in the field of mental health need to raise the issue of debt and should consistently monitor debt issues. It is therefore also important to engage with, and work more effectively with, specialist debt advisors in the order to provide holistic and appropriate health care. 

A paper based on the research entitled ‘Social determinants of mental health: the missing dimension of debt advice’ is currently in press. Download PDF (6MB)