New analysis of national data by the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute estimates that 23,000 people in England were struggling in problem debt last year while in hospital for mental health care.
This group are likely to be receiving calls and emails from banks, credit card companies, local authorities and other creditors while in acute distress. Thousands more were in a similar position while receiving mental health crisis support in the community.
The charity has brought together a coalition of leading mental health and debt organisations including the MHNA to call on the government to extend the proposed ‘breathing space’ scheme to cover people in mental health crisis.