Britons hit by cost of living crisis considering suicide, charity warns

The cost of living crisis in Britain is plunging people into large amounts of debt as they struggle to pay for increasingly expensive essentials, causing a surge in anxiety and suicidal thoughts.

A new report from the Christians Against Poverty charity shows many on low incomes are struggling to balance their budgets as the cost of petrol and energy soars.

New CAP clients in the south west have a peak debt of £15,680 and the To The Edge report suggests that, without help, it would take an average of 29 years for a household in the region to get out of the red.

“This report shows the reality of the situation for many people. The cost of living crisis is leaving many families on unsustainable budgets, with little or nothing left after covering their basic living costs,” said Kathryn Ford, who manages a charity in Highworth.

“Everyone’s feeling the impact right now but if you’re already on a low income, the strain is relentless - plus there’s added anxiety over future rises. People are aware they could suddenly be plunged into large amounts of debt, and they’re scared.”

Kathryn added: “People fall into debt for a variety of reasons. They may have been made redundant, left a job to care for a family member, suffered from a long term illness themselves, or experienced a relationship breakdown - which cuts many household’s income in half.

“The detrimental impact these kinds of debts have are significant. CAP’s report shows that, unsurprisingly, more people are suffering from depression compared to last year, and more are experiencing anxiety or panic attacks.”

“Most concerningly, the percentage of our clients who tell us they’ve attempted or considered suicide as a way out of their debt, has risen as well This is heart-breaking and doesn’t have to be the case - help is available.”

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