Financial difficulties

Money troubles can cause you to worry and can affect your mental health if problems go on. They can make you feel uncomfortable, guilty, depressed or even hopeless. Although it can be tempting to bury your head in the sand and try not to think about them, you should seek help to gain control of your finances.

Debt

There are a number of reasons why people many find themselves in debt including:

• change in benefits
• not getting paid
• loss of a job
• addiction (substance misuse or gambling)
• ignoring bills
• major life changes

"By sorting your money problems you can begin to feel better and stay well"
quote by The Royal College of Psychiatrists

Help and support

If you feel you're struggling to keep on top of your money, are in debt or have a problem with gambling there is lots of support available free of charge:

• Citizens Advice budget calculator helps you to work out your budget and see where you might be able to reduce costs
• Leicestershire Citizens Advice Bureau offer drop-in appointments at their branches across the county. They can support you:
  • to apply for benefits or challenge a benefit decision
  • with money management and how to deal with debt
  • with housing or with a landlord
• Leicester City Citizens Advice Bureau has various outreach services across the city. You can arrange an appointment 0300 330 1025
• Rutland Citizens Advice Bureau offer a variety of drop-in and appointment only support
• Step Change provides free, confidential, online debt advice
• Mental Health Money Advice service are dedicated to supporting people affected by mental health and money issues
• Gamblers anonymous offers local support and advice it you have problems with gambling
• GamCare has information and support for those affected by problem gambling

Homelessness

Anyone can find themselves homeless and there are many reasons that can cause this including:

• relationship breakdown
• family fall out
• fleeing abuse
• being evicted by a landlord

Being homeless doesn't necessarily mean you're sleeping on the streets, you could be sleeping on a friend's sofa, a floor or even a hostel and these all classify you as being homeless.

If you are currently homeless or at risk of becoming homeless it's important you get advice.

Help and support

• Contact your local councils housing department:
  • Leicester City Council
  • Blaby District Council
  • Charnwood Borough Council
  • Harborough District Council
  • Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council
  • Melton Borough Council
  • North West Leicestershire District Council
  • Oadby and Wigston Borough Council
  • Rutland County Council
• The Bridge - A registered charity, delivering a number of housing related advice, support and assistance services to homeless and vulnerably housed people in the borough of Charnwood, Leicestershire and Rutland.
• Shelter- A registered national charity, providing advice, support and legal services to those struggling with bad housing or homelessness.

Specialist support if you are Homeless

The Homeless Mental Health Service by Leicestershire Partnership Trust, NHS.

The Homeless Mental Health Service is an award winning multi-disciplinary team offering, engagement, mental health assessment and referral to mainstream mental health and support services – for people age 16+ who are homeless (sleeping rough in hostels) or staying in temporary accommodation (sofa surfing etc.). The team is made up of three full-time mental health practitioners (2 are mental health nurses and 1 is an Occupational Therapist), a part-time psychiatrist, part-time clinical psychologist and a part-time secretary.

Referral criteria

Self-referral by anyone who is homeless and any person in contact with someone who is homeless. Referral via telephone 0116 295 8442 or email: homeless.mhs@nhs.net

For help, support and resources from The Homeless Mental Health Service, please see the website, here.