How to recognise when you need to reach out for help

We all face difficult times, when we feel overwhelmed, anxious or just not ourselves.  

And we all have different worries. They can be about family, work, health or, for many, the stress of money and debt, something that has only worsened with the rising cost of living.  

But how do you know when it’s time to reach out for help?  

While struggling to cope with everyday life doesn’t look or feel the same for everyone, there are common signs that it might be time to open up and seek support.  

Signs it might be time to reach out 

Here are some signs to look out for in yourself or someone else:  

• feeling tired and lacking energy 

• struggling to think clearly and concentrate or experiencing ‘brain fog’  

• feeling agitated or restless 

• feeling unusually down, tearful or hopeless  

• losing interest in things you normally enjoy 

• avoiding being with people and shutting yourself off 

• finding everyday tasks difficult 

• missing work or school  

• using drugs or alcohol to cope with feelings  

• experiencing ‘burn-out’  

• having thoughts of self-harm or suicide  

Physical signs: 

• difficulty sleeping 

• changes in appetite and excessive weight loss or gain 

• physical ailments like nausea, headaches and stomach pains  

Money worries and debt  

Money struggles and debt often go hand in hand with mental health issues. 

Research by the Money and Mental Health Institute shows that in England alone, over 1.5 million people are dealing with debt and mental health challenges. 

At Money Wellness, nearly 64% of our customers tell us about additional challenges they’re facing on top of their money worries. These are often linked to mental health.   

Signs you may need help with money worries and debt can include:  

• struggling to make payments 

• only making minimum payments on credit cards 

• using credit to pay for daily expenses, like food or bills  

• constantly borrowing money 

• feeling stressed about money 

• getting calls from creditors  

• not knowing how much you owe 

• having no savings to fall back on  

 Talking to someone can help 

You don’t have to face your worries alone. Many people find relief simply by talking to someone about their struggles. 

At Money Wellness, we often hear from customers that speaking to an adviser helped lift the weight off their shoulders.  

Like our customer Rick, who was nervous about speaking to a debt adviser but said it was “just like speaking to a friend”.  

Our advisers receive extensive training on how to support people facing mental health challenges.  

However, in some cases, our customers need specialist help. In cases like these, we refer to organisations like Rethink Mental Illness. In the course of a year, we make about 5,000 such referrals.  

Our adviser Katrina explains how many people find it difficult to open up and feel heard. That’s why creating a safe, supportive environment is so important.   

“Anything they [our customers] might think we don’t need to hear, we probably do and we can make sure we tailor our advice and support,” says Katrina.  

We work with “brilliant organisations like Rethink, Samaritans, just because sometimes there’s extra support people really need that maybe outside the scope of a debt advice session. We want to make sure we’re giving everybody that help they really need,” Katrina adds. 

Where to turn to for support  

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, get in touch with the organisations that can offer support.  

• Mind - get the professional support you need.  

• Rethink Mental Illness – for local mental-health support, you can search for help in your area. 

• Samaritans – are there 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. 

If your mental health is being affected by problem debt, contact us for confidential support and advice.