Universal Credit is undermining government ambitions on mental health.

Mental health charity MIND has criticised the government's controversial roll out of Universal Credit for inversely affecting people with mental health conditions when they transfer onto the new benefit.

In an article on the charity's website Vicki Nash head of policy and campaigns at MIND writes that they have ' consistently failed' to recognise the damaging impact of debt and benefit sanctions on people struggling with their mental health.

MIND join the National Audit Office, MPs from both sides of the house and several other charities in criticising Universal Credit for its manifest unfairness. Even the' pause' rolling out the new benefit announced recently is unlikely to help the large number of claimants who will eventually be transferred over.

A YouGov poll of 2000 people with money problems showed that 65% had felt stressed due to their situation, 62% had experienced anxiety and 44% said that money worries had caused them to feel depressed.

Around half of adults in the UK with money problems also struggle with their mental health, this can cause them to engage in unhealthy behaviours such as drinking or smoking heavily.
(Source the Money and Health Policy Institute)

Commenting on the results of the survey Brian Dow, managing director of Mental Health UK said, 'these figures show just how vicious the cycle of money and health problems can be'.

Earlier this month Prime Minister Theresa May appointed Jackie Doyle-Price as the UK's first minister for suicide prevention. In, addition she pledged £1.8milkion to support suicide prevention work done by the Samaritans, saying she hoped this would ' end the stigma that has forced so many to suffer in silence'.

Taking up her new post MS Doyle-Price said she understood the. 'tragic devastating and long-lasting effect of suicide on families', going on to say that she wanted to put their needs 'at the heart of what we do'.
(Source BBC News)

In her article for the MIND website Vicki Nash writes that the first job of the new minister should be to urge the DWP to ensure that people transferring to Universal Credit who have mental health issues are given adequate support.

Under the current regime they can face losing money if they do not respond to letters sent by the DWP. She writes that 'the effects of benefits issues when they go wrong can be disastrous and even life threatening'.

It’s good to talk, but only if you can afford to go private.

Author and broadcaster Ruby Wax is leading a campaign to get the government to invest more in relationship support services in her role as president of Relate.

The charity is working in partnership with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BCAP) under the hashtag #investinrelationships.

In a poll of more than 2000 users of the Relate website 35% of respondents said they had sought relationship counselling but had either discontinued it of been put off entirely by the cost. This rose to 41% amongst users who are on low incomes.

A separate poll conducted by YouGov for the BCAP found that 21% of respondents on low incomes said that mental health problems had had an impact on their relationships. They also cited debt, poor housing and physical health problems as significant causes of stress.

There are currently 2.87million people in the UK who are in ' distressed' relationships, despite strong evidence that it is effective counselling is not currently commissioned by the NHS, leaving people seeking support with the choice of either paying or relying on charities like Relate.

When asked 94% of respondents said that having a strong relationship was important and 68% agreed that everyone should be able to access counselling regardless of their ability to pay.

David Weaver, president of the BCAP told Mental Health Today ' we know that counselling can change lives and that at times of difficulty that it can make a world of difference'.

He added that ' relationship counselling should be free to everyone whenever they need it, so they can live happier healthier lives'.

Also speaking to Mental Health Today Ruby Wax said the impact of relationship stresses on people on low incomes was a 'social justice issue’.

She added that ' without support distressed relationships can have devastating consequences leading to homelessness, domestic violence and mental illness’.

Relate have launched a petition calling on the government to invest in access to relationship support services, details of which can be found by following this link https://www.relate.org.uk/investinrelationships