Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has warned a conference at the University of Sheffield that Britain faces an epidemic of mental distress if plunged into a recession.
It could increase the number of people suffering stress and depression, he said in a speech delivered last Friday at the University’s Mental Health Awareness Day.
Mr. Clegg, MP for the Sheffield Hallam constituency, said: "If you’ve been mentally unwell before, or are vulnerable to mental distress, you’re going to be right back in the thick of it.
"And even if mental illness is completely new to you, the chances of you developing problems with stress, depression or anxiety are extremely high."
As negative equity, home repossessions and job losses bite, there will inevitably be an impact on people’s mental health, he argued.
Mr. Clegg said: "I’m talking about an epidemic of mental distress, this will be the hidden tragedy of the recession."
He argued depression makes it difficult to motivate yourself and mania can lead to compulsive spending.
So people with mental health problems are more likely to get into "unmanageable debt" during the economic downturn, he added.
The Lib Dem leader said people should be able to take action when well so they cannot acquire loans when they are ill.
He wants people to be able to put a "generic freeze" on their credit rating, without having to specify they have mental problems, meaning they cannot take out a loan.
Mr. Clegg called for mental health professionals to be trained to recognise when people are at risk of debt, while debt counsellors should be taught to deal with mentally ill people appropriately.
He also proposed a system where people can request their bank to monitor their
accounts for unusual spending patterns with a need for joint authorisation from a friend or support worker, so it can be overridden if they become ill.
He said: "Banks should put procedures in place to help customers who have disclosed their mental health problems and missed payments."
Mr. Clegg suggests that if people are unwell and have been unable to manage their finances, they should not be penalised with late fines and charges.
The Mental Health Awareness Day, held at Firth Court, focused on breaking down the barriers to employment often encountered by people with mental ill-health.
"There is still an unacceptable stigma in society attached to revealing mental ill-health," added the Lib Dem leader.
It could increase the number of people suffering stress and depression, he said in a speech delivered last Friday at the University’s Mental Health Awareness Day.
Mr. Clegg, MP for the Sheffield Hallam constituency, said: "If you’ve been mentally unwell before, or are vulnerable to mental distress, you’re going to be right back in the thick of it.
"And even if mental illness is completely new to you, the chances of you developing problems with stress, depression or anxiety are extremely high."
As negative equity, home repossessions and job losses bite, there will inevitably be an impact on people’s mental health, he argued.
Mr. Clegg said: "I’m talking about an epidemic of mental distress, this will be the hidden tragedy of the recession."
He argued depression makes it difficult to motivate yourself and mania can lead to compulsive spending.
So people with mental health problems are more likely to get into "unmanageable debt" during the economic downturn, he added.
The Lib Dem leader said people should be able to take action when well so they cannot acquire loans when they are ill.
He wants people to be able to put a "generic freeze" on their credit rating, without having to specify they have mental problems, meaning they cannot take out a loan.
Mr. Clegg called for mental health professionals to be trained to recognise when people are at risk of debt, while debt counsellors should be taught to deal with mentally ill people appropriately.
He also proposed a system where people can request their bank to monitor their
accounts for unusual spending patterns with a need for joint authorisation from a friend or support worker, so it can be overridden if they become ill.He said: "Banks should put procedures in place to help customers who have disclosed their mental health problems and missed payments."
Mr. Clegg suggests that if people are unwell and have been unable to manage their finances, they should not be penalised with late fines and charges.
The Mental Health Awareness Day, held at Firth Court, focused on breaking down the barriers to employment often encountered by people with mental ill-health.
"There is still an unacceptable stigma in society attached to revealing mental ill-health," added the Lib Dem leader.
Tim Lamden
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