We understand that financial difficulties can have a significant impact on your mental and emotional wellbeing. Just talking about things can help to ease this burden - and there are many sources of help and support available.
If you're struggling with money but find it hard to reach out to the services listed here, please speak to someone you trust. This could be a friend, a carer, a care worker or anyone else involved in supporting you.
General advice and support
Citizens Advice
- Free advice and guidance on issues like struggling to pay your bills and making the most of grants and benefits
- A wide range of other general help and support
Money Helper
- Brings together the support and services of three government-backed financial guidance providers - the Money Advice Service, the Pensions Advisory Service and Pension Wise
- Money and pensions guidance
National Debtline
- Free and independent debt advice
- Guides, fact sheets and budgeting tools
Mental health crisis breathing space
Breathing space is a national debt relief scheme. There is a special scheme for people in mental health crisis, which is run by mental health charity Rethink. You won't need to speak to the debt adviser yourself, but they'll need a form from a mental health professional before they can look at your application. Speak to someone in your mental health care team to find out more or contact the Rethink Helpline on 0808 801 0745.
The Trussell Trust
- Find your local foodbank
- 'Health through Hardship' scheme - talk to a Citizens Advice adviser free on 0808 208 2138
- Emergency food parcels containing a minimum of three days' nutritionally balanced food (need to be referred and provided with a voucher to claim)
Devon County Council
- A wide range of advice and support from bills and benefits to foodbanks and transport.
Turn2us
- Advice on which benefits, grants and other schemes are available to you
- Free helpline on 0808 802 2000 to help people find grants, complete a benefit calculation or get help with benefits, debt, housing and legal issues
- Emergency grants
Mental Health and Money Advice
- Free and impartial information, support and advice for anyone affected by mental health and money issues, and their families and carers
- Helps you understand, manage and improve your financial and mental health
Mind
- Help with organising your finances, dealing with services and claiming benefits when you have a mental health problems
- Looking after your mental health when you or someone you care for are worried about money
Devon Mental Health Alliance
- Signposting to local organisations who can offer support around mental wellbeing and cost of living pressures
Apply for free school meals
- Check if your child can get free school meals
