Cost of Living Impact on Mental Health

When you are scrolling social media and watching wealthy families holidaying abroad and purchasing new homes, you may be convinced that you are the only one shivering in a cold home and purchasing cheap products for your weekly food shop.

However, if you read our infographic, you will quickly learn that this is completely untrue. The average person in the UK is experiencing a great amount of anxiety due to living costs increasing, and it is not getting better (1).

The situation is even worse when we look at people who are already more financially vulnerable. 31% of adults earning less than £10,000 per year are very worried about the cost-of-living crisis, compared to just 12% of people with an income exceeding £50,000 per year.

Disabled people, who are more at risk of suffering from unheated homes and inadequate food shops, are much more likely than abled people to feel anxious about the crisis (2). As you will see from the infographic, four in ten disabled people are currently worried, compared to just 75% of abled people.

Though the infographic does not mention the experience of people with addiction, they are undoubtedly also vulnerable to the cost-of-living crisis, as financial instability can trigger relapse (4). As you read through each statistic, please spare a thought for the people who are suffering from intense anxiety due to this seemingly never-ending recession.

If you are also experiencing severe anxiety, there is help out there for you. Many websites are offering helpful advice on how to cope mentally at this time, but beyond this, we would suggest looking for a therapist and practising healthy habits such as mindfulness and meditation (3).