Mental health and debt

SIR – Today the Financial Guidance and Claims Bill will return to the House of Commons for debate.

Among other things, the Bill will provide for the creation of a “breathing space” scheme, which would give people in financial crisis who seek debt advice a six-week respite from fees, charges or collections activity. We welcome that.

However, we believe that the Government should go further to protect the tens of thousands of people in mental health crisis who are too unwell to even seek debt advice. New research by the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute estimates that up to 23,000 people in England alone struggled with debt while hospitalised as a result of their mental health last year, while thousands more in crisis at home were in a similar financial position.

We have proposed amendments to the Bill that would extend the scheme to everyone in receipt of NHS mental health crisis services. These changes would make a big difference to many lives, and we urge the Government and MPS to support the amendments.

Martin Lewis

Founder and Chairman, Money and Mental Health Policy Institute

Johnny Mercer MP (Con)

Luciana Berger MP (Lab)

President, Labour Campaign for Mental Health

Norman Lamb MP (Lib Dem)