Shari McDaid
Financial strain and poverty are key drivers of poor mental health. People struggling to pay their rent or mortgage, feed their families, or cover essential bills are at higher risk of developing mental health problems including anxiety and depression.
Last summer as the cost-of-living crisis began to take hold, we were, of course, very concerned about the potential negative impacts on people’s mental health. Public mental health was already severely bruised due to the pandemic, with people who were already disadvantaged by inequalities bearing the brunt. With no respite, the cost-of-living crisis hit and exacerbated the pressures already faced by so many people. As the months went by, here, in one of the richest countries in the world, we heard about increasing numbers of people skipping meals and foregoing heating their homes because they couldn’t afford it.
Unsurprisingly, by November, people were showing signs of mental distress. In Scotland, our survey of more than 1,000 adults carried out by Opinium found that 33 per cent of adults experienced stress, 40 per cent experienced anxiety, and 13 per cent said they felt hopeless due to their financial situation in the previous month. These results were further affirmed by polling carried out for the Foundation in March of this year, showing that among those who had been feeling anxious in the previous two weeks, worry about paying household bills was the most common reason.
Recent statistics published by the Scottish Government underscore our concerns. As of March, almost half (49%) of Scottish adults reported that their mental health is being negatively impacted by the cost-of-living situation, and 13 per cent said that their mental health is being negatively impacted to a large extent.
As ever, it is people who have the least that are shouldering the greatest burden. People who report that they are managing their household finances less well are ten times more likely to report a negative impact on their mental health to a large extent.
Of those who say they are managing their household finances well, only 3 per cent report a negative impact on their mental health to a large extent. On the other hand, almost a third (31%) of people who say they are managing their household finances less well say the cost-of-living crisis is negatively impacting their mental health to a large extent.
This huge gap in mental distress between those who are managing their finances well and those managing less well reflects what we know about financial stress – that it’s bad for people’s mental health.
There are things we can do as individuals to help us maintain good mental health but, worryingly, the increased cost-of-living is causing people to reduce these healthy behaviours. Our polling in November 2022 found that people were exercising less, getting poorer sleep, and not spending as much time with friends and family. Scottish Government data confirms that people are reducing social contact. In March 43 per cent of Scottish adults reported that the cost-of-living situation has impacted negatively on spending time with or connecting with others, and this has risen from 39 per cent in September 2022. This is concerning because connecting with others is a well-evidenced protective factor for mental health.
Again, there are large differences between those who are managing well financially and those who are not:
- In March, among those reporting managing well, 25% say that the cost-of-living situation has impacted negatively on spending time with or connecting with others.
- This compares with 46% of those who say they are getting by okay.
- A much higher proportion (65%) of those who say they are managing less well report that the cost-of-living situation has impacted negatively on spending time with or connecting with others.
These figures show that efforts by UK and Scottish Government to support people who are struggling financially, such as energy support schemes, expanding free school meals and doubling child payment, do not go far enough to address the inequalities that put people at higher risk of poor mental health.
The differences in the extent of negative effect on mental health between people who are financially comfortable and those who are struggling highlight the urgent need for additional targeted measures that ensure people in greatest need of support, whose mental health is most at risk, will benefit.
These figures show that efforts by UK and Scottish Government to support people who are struggling financially, such as energy support schemes, expanding free school meals and doubling child payment, do not go far enough to address the inequalities that put people at higher risk of poor mental health.
The differences in the extent of negative effect on mental health between people who are financially comfortable and those who are struggling highlight the urgent need for additional targeted measures that ensure people in greatest need of support, whose mental health is most at risk, will benefit.
To truly address the disparity in mental health between rich and poor, governments must do their part in ensuring that everyone has enough income to prevent financial stress. The Scottish Government should advocate to the UK Government for an increase to Universal Credit so that it meets people’s essential needs, as recommended by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and the Trussell Trust. In the meantime, one step that would support young parents would be a Scottish Child Payment top-up. The Mental Health Foundation also supports the campaign for a Young Parent Top-up to SCP, which is being led by One Parent Families Scotland.
Additionally, the Scottish Government can take other measures to protect people’s mental health during this cost-of-living crisis by:
- Supporting community organisations who are providing community connection to people experiencing financial stress.
The Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund should be expanded to fund all relevant current applications. Currently the Scottish Government has committed to £15M in funding for this programme; however in 2021-22, they allocated £21M to the same fund, in response to high demand. There is no less need in the current year, and all worthy applications should be funded. - Making sure that frontline workers know how to respond effectively to the mental health effects of financial stress and strain.
This should include frontline workers in health, social care, money and debt advice services, antipoverty and other community organisations, energy companies, water and telecoms services and private financial services companies.
Workers in the frontline public sector and customer service roles must provide a supportive experience for people that does not stigmatise or cause distress. This can be done by building the capacity of frontline workers in various community and service settings to respond to mental distress and signpost support sensitively. This includes call-centre staff, who are often the first point of contact with people in distress.
You can take action to prevent mental health problems today.
- Share this blog with your Scottish and UK parliamentary representatives.
- Share it on social media.
- Learn how you can support your own and others’ mental health.
Notes:
All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 1013 adults in Scotland. Fieldwork was undertaken between 27th - 29th September 2022. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all adults in Scotland (aged 18+).
All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 1001 adults in Scotland. Fieldwork was undertaken between 21st - 23rd February 2023. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all adults in Scotland (aged 18+).
All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 1003 adults in Scotland. Fieldwork was undertaken between 28th - 30th March 2023. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all adults in Scotland (aged 18+).