The Link Between Cost of Living Crisis & Mental Health
When people check their bank accounts, their chests tighten because you don’t know what bill has taken your money this month. Is it food, rent or that subscription you forgot about? It’s always something. Thousands of Londoners are making the impossible choices between heating their homes and feeding their families.
Because of this, your mental health can take a dramatic toll due to financial stress and anxiety. The anxious feeling you may get when you wonder how you are going to stretch that £20 till payday, the depression settles in when you realise that in this new decade, working full-time still isn’t enough to get by stress free.
In communities across England, financial struggles carry an additional weight of silence. Many cultures view discussing money as shameful or a sign of failure. Some parents may have immigrated for better opportunities but now due to financial struggles feel like they are letting their families down. Whereas young people are consumed with guilt in admitting they’re struggling after their parents already sacrificed so much.
Personally, I’ve seen that struggling financially does increase anxiety and depression. However, what many of us need to realise is that poverty isn’t a personal failing it’s systemic, it’s difficult to talk to mental health professionals about how you can’t pay your rent, especially if there’s a paywall involved between you and your therapist.
What AM to PM Wellbeing offers is free counselling to those who are struggling but can’t afford to pay for therapy. Just because you are going through a rough patch does not mean you should suffer silently. Your mental health matters don’t ever think otherwise.
