Mental health charity Mind has reported a 28% annual increase in calls to it’s helpline and blames the recession for the rise.

Calls regarding personal finance and job security have doubled in that time as families and individuals find their personal finances are stretched ever further as the costs of food, fuel and clothes continue to rise whilst salaries are back at the equivalent of 2005 levels.

Despite being open five days a week the advisors at Mind are unable to answer 40% of the calls they receive due to staff shortages and they warn that they face a funding crisis as they see their donations fall.

Mental health sufferers raised over 40,000 enquires in 2011-2012 and they have seen an annual increase in calls since launching the service 20 years ago.

The chief executive Paul Farmer believes that the return to recession has again made people fearful of their financial security and this has a direct impact on their wellbeing

“The era of austerity shows little sign of abating and more and more people need our help.”

“All of these can be affected during tough economic times and, as we head back into recession, we are seeing an ever growing need for what we have to offer.

“At the same time the local Mind network is facing the challenging situation of increased demand for services and potential cuts to funding.”

Other charities and private mental health care providers such as The British CBT & Counselling Service have noted the impact of the recession on it’s users.

A spokesperson for The British CBT & Counselling Service, said: “We’re finding that it’s the ongoing uncertainty in people’s work lives that’s causing them problems now…we all thought that if we battened down the hatches for a few years the economy would improve and we could start moving forward again with a bit of hope but that just isn’t happening. It’s this bleak outlook which appears to be exacerbating problems with anxiety and depression which we are seeing now

Chief executive at SANE, Marjorie Wallace, said: “There has been a disturbing increase in the number of people with depression and anxiety due to financial uncertainty contacting our helpline for information and emotional support.

“They report that their fears about losing their jobs and being unable to find work are making them ill”.

“They are finding themselves getting into debt, and because they are depressed, feel increasingly unable to face the future.”

If you are suffering with any of the issues discussed in this article and would like to seek professional help then you may find our page about how we can help with Depression useful.

For information and links to worldwide suicide and crisis hotlines click here: www.therapyroute.com/crisis-suicide-helplines