ONE in two people are experiencing more anxiety about being able to pay their bills than last year due to the escalating cost of living crisis, new figures reveal.
The British Psychological Society (BPS) warned of a potential mental health crisis this winter amid recent energy price rises and the current economic uncertainty.
The data, collected by YouGov on behalf of the BPS, reveals 51 per cent of respondents who did not already have a diagnosed mental health condition reported feeling more anxious about being able to pay bills than this time last year.
One in five people without a previously diagnosed mental health condition reported that worrying about money was making them feel depressed, while just over a quarter of all respondents said they felt confident they could get by financially this winter.
The BPS said it is "sounding the alarm" about the potentially devastating impact the cost of living crisis could have on people’s mental health and the strain the increased anxiety may have on already struggling mental health services this winter.
Sarb Bajwa from the BPS said: "As well as the practicalities of being able to heat homes and put food on the table, people are also carrying the mental health load of living under this strain.
"We are incredibly concerned that many simply will be unable to cope, with nowhere to turn to get help as services are already stretched and struggling to cope with soaring demand.
"We urge the government to target support to those on the lowest incomes and benefits, and make sure that there is the necessary funding in place for mental health services so they can try and cope with the inevitable surge in demand we will see this winter."
