Mental Health and Debt Help Booklet Discussion

[MSE Martin]

This thread is specifically to discuss the booklet

Mental Health & Debt

To discuss or ask a question just click 'reply'. Thanks!

(This thread was also used for discussing an early sneak peek of the guide, so some of the early notes include suggestions for that.)

[nee-naw]

Excellent work Martin .... very well done. Hero to the masses.

Congratulations on a job well done!!!

[tugrin]

A very much needed piece of literature addressing a problem which is the economic equivalent of the diabetes epidemic. It is stunning that you have been left to deal with this issue single handedly without help from government/ business - you should on the honours list for the help you provide to all of us anyway - but this excellent booklet should lead to a knighthood at least!

[So Sad Angel]

I am so glad that you have taken the time to put this together. It needs publicity and my guess is there will be so many people who identify with it immediately.

This subject has been swept under the rug for far too long now...it needs to be recognised & discussed openly.

[madhouse]

Fantastic Martin,Jenny and Marianne as a full time parent and carer to a young adult with Asperger's syndrome, I've learnt a lot from this already. Our son has very poor communication skills and although I am an appointee for him he handles his own benefit money. It has taken years of tuition to make him understand the value of money, and his Dad will now joke he's so aware he's tight! But I worry about what will happen one day when we are not available to guide or protect him and this has given me reassurrance that he already has some protection. Well done and thank you, I look forward to the finished copy.

[grange67]

Excellent work martin, I am one of the many unfortunate people who have debt and suffer from a mental health problem. Unfortunately there still is some stigma attached to mental health and some people are not willing to admit having such a problem. i have been lucky to have a very supportive family, employer and have received help through work initiatives. One such initiative is "beating the blues" and excellent cbt programme that helps change a negative to a postive, helps so much!

[secretshopper75]

Just downloaded this...fantastic Martin...you deserve a big thank you

[Vorobyey]

Great document.

I have one query based on personal experience:

p34
"Take advantage of disability discounts
If you receive disability living allowance (DLA), there is a raft of discounts available. One of the best is a Disabled Persons Railcard, which costs £18 and cuts a third off your ticket and an adult companion’s – they don’t have to be a carer.
To qualify, you must get Attendance Allowance or the disability living allowance.
People receiving certain benefits get reduced fees and charges at most libraries. Ask at your local one to see what it offers."

I believe that Disabled Persons Railcard and other Travelcards are only available for people on higher rate mobility. Certainly on the lower rate I have been told that I cannot obtain one. Please tell me I am wrong because travel is getting so impossibly expensive.

Also it is very humiliating to prove to all and sundry that one is receipt of benefits eg at the library where you can be well-known to the librarians. Have you any advice on how to prove your right to reductions without producing lots of papers?

[OBrother2001]

Hi Martin

On page 18 - it refers to cutting off the water supply as a last resort - in fact cutting off a domestic water supply is illegal, no matter how big the debt. Of course, this would not stop the water company taking action in the courts for a CCJ but the water supply must still stay connected nonetheless.

[beanielou]

Very impressive & imformative

[Aesop]

Originally Posted by Vorobyey

Great document.

I have one query based on personal experience:

p34
"Take advantage of disability discounts
If you receive disability living allowance (DLA), there is a raft of discounts available. One of the best is a Disabled Persons Railcard, which costs £18 and cuts a third off your ticket and an adult companion’s – they don’t have to be a carer.
To qualify, you must get Attendance Allowance or the disability living allowance.
People receiving certain benefits get reduced fees and charges at most libraries. Ask at your local one to see what it offers."

I believe that Disabled Persons Railcard and other Travelcards are only available for people on higher rate mobility. Certainly on the lower rate I have been told that I cannot obtain one. Please tell me I am wrong because travel is getting so impossibly expensive.

Also it is very humiliating to prove to all and sundry that one is receipt of benefits eg at the library where you can be well-known to the librarians. Have you any advice on how to prove your right to reductions without producing lots of papers?

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Disabled...ort/DG_4001063


Eligibility
To qualify, you must meet at least one of the criteria listed below. The application form lists the proof you will need to confirm that you're eligible for a Railcard.
You qualify if you:
are registered as visually impaired
are registered as deaf or using a hearing aid
have epilepsy and have repeated attacks even though you receive drug treatment
have epilepsy and are currently prohibited from driving because of your epilepsy
receive Attendance Allowance
receive Severe Disablement Allowance
receive the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance
receive the higher or middle rate care component of Disability Living Allowance
receive War Pensioner's Mobility Supplement
receive War or Service Disablement Pension for a disability of 80 per cent or more
are buying or leasing a vehicle through the Motability Scheme

[Aesop]

Originally Posted by OBrother2001

Hi Martin

On page 18 - it refers to cutting off the water supply as a last resort - in fact cutting off a domestic water supply is illegal, no matter how big the debt. Of course, this would not stop the water company taking action in the courts for a CCJ but the water supply must still stay connected nonetheless.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTax...rs/DG_10025592

Water rates arrears
Many water companies send out bills twice a year, in April and October. You can pay your bill all at once or in instalments - perhaps weekly, fortnightly or monthly. If you get behind with your payments the water company can't disconnect your supply, but they can take action to get their money and, if necessary, take you to court.
There is a scheme called 'WaterSure' that may be able to help you. There is a useful flow chart on the Consumer Council for Water (CCWater) website where you can check if you are eligible for the WaterSure scheme.
Get contact details for your water companyOpens new window
Make a complaint to OfwatOpens new window

[niccatw]

A big thank you to Martin and team!

When I first was brave enough to visit my GP, I filled out the depression questionairre she handed me in a way I knew would mean I wouldn't be diagnosed. My GP advised me to go and get my hair cut or buy myself some new clothes to make myself feel better.

My stress levels went through the roof because I was juggling debt with everything else. (Admittedly, I said nothing to my GP of this, so I'm not suggesting the GP should have known, but just how I felt.)

By the time I was brave enough to go back (and make sure I saw a different GP), I had lost an awful lot of weight and was really very low and it was a long, slow (and continuing) process to get me back to feeling like me again.

If my GP had had a better understanding of the link between mental health and depression, that first appointment might have been very different.

I really hope GP's embrace your hard work and see your booklet not only as a way of helping their patients, but as a starting point for any doctor's out there who are less familiar or confident when it comes to mental health and debt.

[Mrs Arcanum]

Will forward this to my work.

[eng]

It is so refreshing to find someone who can understand others problems. Even those trained to understand do not have the empathy and skills you have Martin. I have a son with mental health problems and it is a losing battle to find awareness and understanding from those who should be able to help him. A brilliant resource and thank you.

[3Dogs]

Well done to Martin and the team for this excellent much-needed document

[tealady]

Hi
I think that booklet would be great for anyone who is worrried about debt. Well done to the team.

[brenda10]

Martin,
The amount of useful information in the booklet is incredible, I had not realised so many offers of help are out there and now that I have all your useful information I feel a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.
Brilliant work and thanks for all your and the teams hard work.
C.M

[Erme]

I've just had a quick skim read but looks pretty comprehensive...Have spammed all my medics (and I have lots of medics email addies LOL)

Just wondering if DMP providers though should also be included in the appendix? Just a thought?

And what about doing something on help for students - even if it's just a paragraph because like so many folk have their first psychotic episode as students..

Glad the W.R.A.P is in there though...the wrap is so cool

You just need to get us all making cards as inpatients and starting up cottage industries on the acute wards LOL....knitting needles and crochet hooks to the rescue (boy that'd keep the recovery centre busy tee hee)

E
PS. Och and baking for our medics...works better than complaints......Just tell us a good cheap food processor

[ellybelly89]

It's excellent Martin. You deal with the issue in a sensitive yet constructive manner.
You should be knighted sir.