In this episode of 'The penny drops', our host Andrea Fox talks to fashionpreneur and mental health campaigner George David Hodgson and Brian Semple, Head of External Affairs at the independent charity Money & Mental Health. This month we look at how our finances can affect our mental health, and vice versa, with lots of helpful tips on everything from employee rights to where to go for support.

How can you find more information?

Royal London recommends you seek professional independent financial advice before making financial decisions. You can learn more about the value of financial advice on our website, or visit Unbiased to find a trusted professional in your area.

You can also find lots of helpful information about finances and mental health, some of which are mentioned in this episode, on the following sites:

General support

Mind: www.mind.org.uk

Rethink Mental Illness: www.rethink.org

Young Minds: youngminds.org.uk

Work and employment

Mind: www.mind.org.uk/information-support/legal-rights/discrimination-at-work/telling-my-employer

Citizens Advice: www.citizensadvice.org.uk/work/rights-at-work/sick-pay/getting-money-when-youre-off-work-sick

Debt

Citizens Advice: www.citizensadvice.org.uk/debt-and-money

StepChange Debt Charity:www.stepchange.org

Health services and support groups

Mind: www.mind.org.uk/about-us/local-minds/local-minds

NHS, GP Services: www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/nhs-services/gps

NHS, Mental Health and Wellbeing: www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression

Urgent help

If you need to speak to someone, you can call the Samaritans anytime, day or night, on 116 123.

This month’s episode was recorded in February 2020, before any Government restrictions were put in place in relation to coronavirus. For more information on the new measures and financial support being offered by the Government, please visit gov.uk/coronavirus.

Please note that all topics discussed in this episode can vary depending on your personal circumstances. Any figures quoted were accurate at the time of recording.