‘The impact of the cost of living crisis on mental health’, by Dr Fiona Pienaar, looks at the literature around the impact of poverty on the mental health of people across the nation. It forms the next phase of our work with the Aviva Foundation to support those in the UK with their mental health in the wake of the cost of living crisis.
The literature review covers the societal groups who are most vulnerable to the cost of living crisis and the links between financial challenge, poverty, and poor mental health and wellbeing. These include single parents, young children, multigenerational families and those living with long-term multimorbidity, alongside those who are single, the unemployed, lower-income households, and those who are living in rented accommodation. It then looks at the connection between these challenges and the mental health that they experience.
Mental Health Innovations is partnering with PayPlan, one of the UK’s leading free debt advice providers, to promote Shout’s 24/7 text messaging mental health support service to individuals in financial distress. Following a Shout conversation, our volunteers will signpost people to PayPlan for free, comprehensive debt advice and assistance.
Emma Gibbons, PayPlan’s Vulnerability Lead said: “We are excited to work with the Aviva Foundation to promote Shout. Since Shout’s launch in 2019 they have taken 2.5 million text conversations with 830,000 individuals in distress. By collaborating, we will be combining our expertise in debt advice with their platform reach to help more individuals in need. We look forward to seeing the positive effects this joint initiative will bring, offering 24/7 mental health support via SMS to those in need.”
Victoria Hornby, CEO of Mental Health Innovations said: “We are incredibly grateful to Aviva Foundation for their support, which means that we will be able to strengthen our response to supporting people experiencing mental health challenges due to financial issues. We’re delighted to also be working with PayPlan to be able to signpost people to their financial advice and assistance services.”
If anyone is worried about any matter, including finances or debt, they can text “REFRESH” to 85258 to receive free, confidential support at any time.
