Press Release

FLA HELPS MENTAL HEALTH WORKERS TO DEAL WITH CLIENTS’ DEBTS

20 July 2006

Help is at hand for health workers supporting their clients through a debt problem thanks to a new booklet written by the Royal College of Psychiatrists and sponsored by Finance & Leasing Association (FLA).

According to the Office for National Statistics, one in three people with a serious mental health problem is also in debt or in arrears – three times the prevalence of debt and arrears in the general population.

The booklet – Final Demand: Debt and Mental Health – advises health workers on tell-tale signs that a client might be in debt, how to broach the subject of finance and be supportive through the repayment process, working alongside a professional debt counsellor and alongside lenders.

This booklet represents FLA’s second major initiative on debt and mental health issues, last year having produced (with Citizens Advice) a guide for lenders on how to deal sensitively with customers with mental health problems. FLA regards the issue of debt and mental health as of the utmost importance.

FLA’s Head of Legal and Policy Development, Ashley Holmes, who spoke at today’s launch at the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ Annual Forum of Patients and Carers, welcomed the booklet:

“Debt can make a mental health problem worse; it is important that health workers have the knowledge to steer clients through financial problems, providing support and advice. FLA is proud to sponsor this booklet and hope that it will prove useful in combating over-indebtedness. It marks another important step in our work on the interaction of debt with mental health problems”

Royal College of Psychiatrists Registrar, Professor Sue Bailey said,

“In production of this booklet, the Royal College of Psychiatrists worked with the First Step Trust, which provides real work experience and training opportunities to people with mental health problems. The booklet was produced by people who have direct experience of schizophrenia and debt.

“We would like to thank FLA for their sponsorship of this booklet, which means the College can distribute a copy to 13,500 mental health workers around the UK.”