AS the festive season approaches, financial pressures are taking a heavy toll on Australians’ mental health. Nearly half of respondents to Beyond Blue’s biennial Mental Health and Wellbeing Check reported financial stress as their primary cause of distress (nearly 46 per cent of all respondents)—a difficult situation mirrored by the National Debt Helpline, which received almost 170,000 calls and chats in the 12 months to the end of October.
In response, the not-for-profit mental health organisation, together with Financial Counselling Australia, has launched a free Money and Mental Health Toolkit.
Offering practical guidance on budgeting, managing emotions, communicating with banks or utility providers and accessing support, the toolkit provides timely assistance to help people navigate the two-way relationship between money and wellbeing, so that the holidays, while challenging, can also be a season of resilience, planning and self-care.
You can find the link to Beyond Blues Financial Toolkit here: https://resources.beyondblue.org.au/
