Mental Health Awareness Week: The impact of financial stress on carers
Mental Health Awareness Week: The impact of financial stress on carers
At North Tyneside Carers Centre we know that caring for someone can have a massive impact on your life, including financial pressure.
This week (12 – 18 May) is Mental Health Awareness Week and a good opportunity to remind you that you are not alone if money worries are affecting your mental health, and that support is available.
Caring can often involve making difficult financial decisions, such as reducing your working hours, dealing with higher household bills, or taking on additional costs for things like specialist equipment or travel to appointments.
A Carers UK survey found that over half (51%) of carers in the UK report that their financial situation is negatively affecting their mental health. In addition, 61% of carers feel stressed or anxious when they think about their finances.
These are stark statistics but behind them are real people who are exhausted, overwhelmed, and worried about how to make ends meet.
Carers tell us that financial stress is a constant background noise, making it harder to sleep, concentrate, or even enjoy happy times. It’s not just about money; it’s about mental space, self-worth, and stability.
Support is available
At North Tyneside Carers’ Centre, we offer practical advice and emotional support to help you navigate financial pressures through the Carer Money Matters Project.
We can help you navigate the benefits system which can be complex and we offer free advice on accessing and applying for welfare benefits. Through the Money Matters project we can also assist with reducing your energy bills and energy debt and we can help you to access the support you need to manage money and reduce debt.
We also run drop-in sessions and one-to-one appointments to help you find out what you’re entitled to and how to make it go further.
In addition to the Money Matters programme, we have a few events coming up that it might be helpful to attend:
- Saturday 17 May – Caring without guilt – managing negative emotions – 11am – 12.30pm. Learn how to manage guilt and negative emotions, and discover strategies for positive change. This supportive session is for carers of those with mental health conditions.
- Tuesday 20 May – Your guide to carer support in North Tyneside – 1pm – 2pm. This is a session looking at all the support services available for carers and the people they look after.
- Thursday 22 May – Understanding anxiety and depression – 2pm – 4pm. Come along to this session to learn about anxiety and depression. You will gain valuable insights, practical tips, and discover the support available to help you and your loved ones.
- Thursday 5 June – Carer grants and discounts – 6pm – 7pm. In this online session we will explore the grants and discounts available to carers and how you can make the most of them.
For more information about these sessions and the others available, visit our events page here.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed or anxious, please reach out. To access our benefits and financial wellbeing support, you’ll need to be registered with us. To register, fill out our self referral form or if you need assistance please call us and we will help you complete it – 01912496480 or email: enquiries@ntcarers.co.uk.