Debt and mental health: Covid has increased the pressure but help is available
Strain on finances is expected to become more acute as coronavirus support schemes are withdrawn
Sarah Douglas has struggled with debt and poor mental health for decades, and says the Covid crisis has made matters worse. “The pandemic has aggravated existing issues for people like me,” says the 51-year-old from Bristol. “It’s massively stressful dealing with the uncertainty but for someone prone to mental health problems, it’s particularly bad.”
Nine years ago, Douglas was diagnosed with autism, and she also has ADHD. “I didn’t understand why I was struggling with money so much before then,” she says “I wasn’t good at budgeting, a low income didn’t give me much to live on, and stress makes this worse.”
Related: Consumer groups welcome move to ensure finance firms put customers first
Related: City watchdog clamps down on debt firms over advice to vulnerable customers
I understand now there is no shame around suffering debt and mental health issues