It is mental health awareness week from 23rd – 30th May 2011 and our charity is focussing on the issues associated with mental health and debt problems. Debt issues are a known contributor for mental health problems with recent statistics showing that 1 in 10 people with a debt problem also suffer from a mental health illness.
Further research has uncovered that 44% of people in need of debt help also required prescription medication from their GP. A worrying statistic is that 38% of people in debt had considered or attempted suicide as a result of their debt problem.
The story of Gregg
Gregg, 28, who has a young family, contacted Debt Support Trust to ask for debt advice. He had been unemployed for 9 months and felt overwhelmed by the pressure to support his family, get a new job and begin to repay his debt.
Gregg visited his general practitioner (GP) for help with depression. Whilst at the doctors Gregg picked up one of our leaflets and gave our debt charity a telephone call. A caring volunteer and qualified debt advisor managed to provide Gregg and his family with benefits advice and support.
After recently speaking to Gregg to find out how his situation was progressing he had managed to gain employment and he felt his situation was improving for the better.
* Gregg was happy for us to tell people his story however we have changed his name. *