Mental health and poverty are current topics that we hear about every day, but how often do you stop and think about them, and about what you could do to help people? This weekend I learned about a major contributory factor to mental illness, and I am moved to share it with you.
It is probably safe to say that most of us experience personal debt at one time or another. We have mortgages, car finance, loans, credit cards, payday loans, mobile phone accounts…the list is endless.
On the run-up to Christmas, this debt might increase to the point where it stretches us to our limit. Some of us have the resilience and the means to manage, but others are, both financially and mentally, less well-equipped.
Just take a couple of moments to think about what those people might look like.
Yesterday I listened to a short talk, given by a trained Salvation Army Debt Advisor, who spoke passionately about the incredible damage that debt can wreak on peoples’ lives. It was a very moving speech. Struggling for words at one point, the speaker certainly managed to convey the massive ripple effect that debt creates. The Salvation Army provides a lifeline to help people regain their lives, their dignity and their mental health. They sit down with people and listen, dissecting the entire situation to establish the bigger picture, and then they liaise with creditors to manage repayment.
It should come as no surprise that debt comes about for many reasons. Some people start to gamble with money they just don’t have. Others, perhaps seeking better lifestyles, buy stuff from catalogues or on the internet, building up their debt without understanding the full implications. Some people lose their main income stream, find it difficult to support their families whilst making ends meet, and so borrow money out of necessity. These are just three out of many examples.
The damage starts with denial, as people justify their debt to themselves and to others. Worry and guilt lurk in the background. As the debt grows, and people are less able to manage it, they start to ignore the post, the ringing telephone and even the knock at the door. They start to withdraw into themselves. Depression can set in, with panic attacks, anxiety and other stress-related symptoms dragging people further and further in over their heads.
The vicious downward spiral only leads to more problems, unless someone steps in and takes action to stop it.
That person could be you. You may know a victim of debt (you may even be the victim) or you may know friends or family members who need support before they feel able to intervene. You have the power to change a life right now, you don’t need training.
As for me? Well, I found out that the Salvation Army Debt Advice Service use an awful lot of stamps and envelopes…so guess what’s at the top of my shopping list this morning!
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