Money and mental health are often more closely connected than we realise. Financial difficulties can have a significant impact on someone’s mental wellbeing, and experiencing poor mental health can make it harder to manage finances, deal with bills or know where to turn for help.
Adferiad’s Mental Health & Money Advice service, developed by Mental Health UK, provides support to people experiencing challenges with their mental health and finances.
For Alison, Specialist Service Manager for the Mental Health and Money Advice Service at Adferiad, making sure people can access the right support is what is most important to her.
Alison supports a team of advisers who provide specialist telephone advice to people experiencing mental health and financial difficulties. She also works to build relationships with partner organisations and support workers, helping to create pathways so that people can access the support they need.
However, for many individuals, accessing money advice isn't always easy.
Someone may initially feel overwhelmed, embarrassed or anxious about their financial situation. They may worry about being judged or feel that their circumstances are simply too complicated to resolve. Mental health can also affect motivation, concentration and confidence, making things like opening letters, answering calls or seeking help feel much more challenging.
This is why having access to a service that understands the relationship between mental health and money can be so important.
Once a referral is received through the service’s referral portal, one of the advisers will contact the individual to arrange a telephone appointment. From that point, the adviser remains their dedicated point of contact throughout their journey, providing ongoing support every step of the way.
Rather than expecting someone to deal with everything at once, advisers take the time to listen and understand their personal circumstances. They can help identify priorities, explain the options available and break things down into manageable steps, working alongside each person at a pace they are comfortable with.
And accessing money advice doesn't necessarily mean someone is struggling with serious debt.
As Alison explains, money advice can include increasing income, identifying grants and financial support, budgeting and helping people better understand their finances. The service can help people understand what support they may be entitled to and create a plan that is right for their individual circumstances.
One of the biggest misconceptions Alison would like to challenge is the idea that people need to wait until their financial situation becomes serious before asking for help. Reaching out early can help people understand their options and potentially prevent problems from becoming more difficult to manage.
Most importantly, Alison wants people to know that the service is confidential, supportive and completely non-judgemental.
Her message is simple: “You don't have to struggle alone.”
Accessing support doesn't mean having all the answers. Sometimes, it simply means taking the first step and allowing someone to help you work out what comes next.