Mentally ill feel suicidal over money issues

Half the people with mental health problems in Nottinghamshire have felt suicidal because of money, housing or benefits issues.
Stock picture.Stock picture.
Stock picture.

Figures from mental health charity Mind show 46 per cent of people with mental health problems have considered or attempted to end their own lives as a result of social factors such as debt, housing and welfare problems, or relationship breakdown, in the last two years.

On behalf of Mind, YouGov surveyed more than 1,500 people across the country online who had used mental health services in the last two years on a range of topics including issues that contributed to worsening mental health, suicidal thoughts and behaviour.

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Of those who had considered or attempted suicide (1,022 people) -

n 41 per cent cited financial and/or housing pressures

n 29 per cent cited the fear of losing, or the loss of welfare benefits

n 29 per cent cited job loss or difficulties at work

n 25 per cent cited relationship breakdown as a contributory factor

The findings come as Mind launches its major new five year campaign, Life Support, highlighting the importance of community services that provide advice, information and social contact for people with mental health problems. Services such as these help people overcome the social issues they often face, which can be both a cause and a result of their mental health problem.

These types of services are under threat, with local authorities having to make difficult spending decisions. Local authorities have had their budgets cut by £18 billion in real terms since 2010.

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