Mental Health and Debt Support

Debt and mental health can affect each other. Money worries may leave you feeling stressed, anxious or overwhelmed, while poor mental health can make it harder to manage bills, letters, calls and repayments.

This guide explains the link between debt and mental health, the signs that money stress may be affecting you and the support available if you’re finding things difficult.

How are debt and mental health linked?

Some people may find that symptoms of conditions such as anxiety, ADHD, depression or bipolar disorder affect how they spend, plan or communicate about money. Others may fall behind after losing income, taking time off work or dealing with a change in their health.

Whatever has led to your situation, support is available. Speaking to a debt advisor can help you understand what you owe, what you can afford and what options may be available.

Why can money worries feel hard to face?

It’s common to avoid debt when it feels overwhelming. Some people might stop opening letters, ignore calls or hide bills from someone close to them.

Some people might also wake up thinking about what they owe, then try to carry on as if everything’s fine. Acting early can help protect your financial well-being and make the situation feel more manageable.

Speaking to someone you trust, such as a friend, family member or one of our debt advisors, can be a useful first step. Talking things through can help you feel less alone and see what support is available.

How do I know if my debts are causing me stress?

Stress from money worries can show up in different ways. You might notice physical, emotional or behavioural changes.

Common signs of stress can include:

• Frequent headaches or migraines
• Back, neck or shoulder pain
• Feeling tired or low on energy
• Changes in appetite
• Difficulty sleeping
• Snapping at friends, family or colleagues
• Finding it hard to concentrate
• Feeling low, worried or overwhelmed
• Finding everyday problems harder to deal with
• Avoiding letters, phone calls or conversations about money

These signs don’t always mean debt is the only cause, but they can indicate that extra support may help.

What if I’m worried about someone else’s mental health?

It’s difficult to know if someone close to you is struggling with their mental health or money worries. You may notice changes in their mood, behaviour or energy levels.

They may seem sad or withdrawn, have extreme mood changes, feel tired more often or appear less able to cope with everyday stress.

If you’re worried about someone, try starting with a calm, relaxed conversation. You don’t need to have all the answers. Listening, giving them time and letting them know support is available can make a real difference.

How PayPlan can support you

We offer free debt advice. We’ll work with you to understand your income, spending and debts, then explain the options available to you.

If you need more specialist support, we can also signpost you to organisations that may be able to help.

We can support you by:

• Looking at your income, spending and debts
• Checking whether your payments are affordable
• Helping you understand if you may be entitled to extra income
• Explaining debt solutions that may be available to you
• Talking through whether Breathing Space may be suitable
• Signposting you to specialist mental health or support organisations where needed

Our aim is to make sure any payments are set at a level that’s affordable for you.

How does PayPlan help if I have a diagnosed mental health condition?

If you tell us about a mental health condition, we’ll treat that information with the care and respect it deserves.

We understand that a diagnosis can affect people in different ways. For example, two people with the same condition may have very different needs, so we’ll focus on your individual circumstances.

Our advisors are trained to recognise when someone may need extra support. We also have specialist colleagues who can help if your mental health is affecting the way you manage your money, communicate with creditors or make decisions about your debt options.

Where appropriate, our team also works with charities, healthcare professionals or other support organisations to make sure the advice and signposting we offer is suitable for your situation.

You only need to tell us once

If you choose to tell us about a mental health condition or support need, you won’t need to keep repeating it every time you speak to us, unless something changes.

We’ll ask your permission before recording sensitive information. We’ll explain why we’re asking, how the information will be used and how it can help us support you.

With your consent, we can tailor our communication to better suit you. This may help reduce stress and make it easier to continue with your debt advice journey.

How do I improve my financial well-being?

A clear plan can help reduce some of the stress that comes with debt. You don’t need to fix everything at once. Starting with one step is enough.

1. Acknowledge what’s happening: Recognising that there’s a problem is an important first step. Once you know where you stand, you can start looking at what support and solutions may be available.
2. Speak to a debt advisor: Talking about debt can feel difficult, but you won’t be judged. Our trained debt advisors can help you understand your situation, explain your options and help you work out what may be affordable.
3. Explore your options. Professional guidance can help you find the right path. Solutions like a Debt Management Plan, an Individual Voluntary Arrangement or Bankruptcy exist to help you clear what you owe systematically.
4. Get mental health support if you need it: Debt advice can help with your money situation, but mental health support may also be important. If you’re struggling, consider speaking to your GP, NHS 111, a mental health charity or another specialist organisation.

Am I entitled to benefits or extra income support?

If you live with a disability, health condition or mental health condition, you may be able to claim extra support. What you can get depends on your circumstances.

Support may include:

• Personal Independence Payment
• Attendance Allowance
• Council Tax Reduction
• Carer’s Allowance, if you care for someone else and meet the eligibility rules

You may also be entitled to other benefits or support depending on your income, household and health needs.

We can help you think about whether you’re maximising your income when you speak to our advisors. You can also use our benefits calculator to give you a rough idea of what you may be entitled to.

Where can I get mental health support?

Often, the people we help are facing other struggles alongside their financial challenges. That’s why we work with a wide network of support partners. If you need help with your mental health, addiction or personal circumstances, there’s specialist charities ready to listen.

You can find a full list of these partners in our Support Directory. Some key mental health organisations include:

• Samaritans: A charity dedicated to reducing feelings of isolation. Call them for free on 116 123.
• Mind:Providing advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. Call 0300 123 3393.
• Shout:A free and confidential text messaging support service. Text SHOUT to 85258.
• Mental Health and Money Advice Service: Specialists who help improve the lives of people severely affected by mental illness.
• Bipolar UK: A charity dedicated to empowering individuals and families affected by bipolar.
• CALM:The Campaign Against Living Miserably helps people take a stand against suicide. Call 0800 58 58 58.

What do I do if I need urgent mental health help?

If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 999 or go to A&E now.

If you need urgent help for your mental health but it’s not an emergency, you can get help from NHS 111 online or call 111 and select the mental health option.

You won’t be wasting anyone’s time by asking for help.

How can I treat mental health distress?

There’s many ways to find relief. This might include counselling, talking therapies or speaking to your doctor about medication. It’s important to find what works best for you.

What benefits are available for health conditions? 

If you live with a disability or mental health condition, you may be able to claim extra support. This includes Personal Independence Payment, Attendance Allowance and a Council Tax reduction.

Get free advice today

Get free debt advice online or call 0800 316 1833 to speak to one of our experts. We’ll explain the solutions available, check what you may be eligible for and help you choose the option that best fits your situation.