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TODAY IS RECOGNISED in Ireland and around the globe as World Mental Health Day. “World Mental Health Day 2023 is an opportunity for people and communities to unite behind the theme ‘Mental health is a universal human right’ to improve knowledge, raise awareness and drive actions that promote and protect everyone’s mental health as a universal human right,” according to the World Health Organization.
In today’s world financial stress has also become an additional challenge that can significantly impact our mental health. As we hear the details of Budget 2024 today, it’s crucial to recognise that mental health must be seen as a priority, and that includes addressing the financial barriers that prevent people from accessing the care they need.
Mental health must be seen as a priority. We have become all too aware that access to mental health services is sometimes a struggle. The long waiting lists for those who need help, especially children in Ireland, are often in the news. Additional investment in mental health care is desperately needed.
Every one of us will struggle with our mental health at some point. We live in a fast-paced, convoluted world and coming to terms with everything we need to absorb every day can be challenging. As the WHO says, “There is no health without mental health” and maintenance of our mental and emotional well-being is crucial. So too is investment in mental health and as a society, we need to push our government to do that.
Affordability can be such a barrier to everyday well-being maintenance. A recent nationally representative general public survey, commissioned by the Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and conducted by Behaviour & Attitudes (B&A) in June 2023 found that not being able to afford therapy is the biggest reason that discourages people from seeing a therapist in Ireland. When the same question was asked in 2019, 26% cited cost as the main barrier, this year that figure has almost doubled to 50% of those surveyed saying that cost is a significant barrier to accessing mental health supports.
As a practising counsellor/psychotherapist in private practice, I see the psychological impact of modern society on our mental health, exacerbated by the financial stress many individuals face. In this post-pandemic world people are feeling stressed and anxious adjusting to hybrid work, the cost of living crisis, loneliness and a range of issues.
The financial challenges brought about by rising inflation and the housing crisis add another layer of complexity to these mental health struggles.
If you’re feeling a bit lost, having trouble sleeping, or stressed, let me assure you – you’re not alone. The best advice I can give is to find a trusted person you can talk to, a friend or family member. If you’re not comfortable talking about your mental health with someone you know, seek out a professional therapist to help you navigate through the tough times you’re experiencing.
Realising you need to focus on improving your mental health is the first step on your journey to improving your well-being. Don’t try to make too many changes at once. Make small changes and you’ll see improvement over time. Stress can often cause us to engage in a variety of unhealthy behaviours, so self-care is of the utmost importance. Look at all the ways to live a healthy lifestyle as this is extremely important when you are feeling low or anxious.
One way to practice self-care is to keep linking in with your friends. Go out and take a walk or cycle, get your blood flowing. I find getting out in nature is a great stress reliever, autumn is a lovely time to go exploring in a new place or just taking a walk in your local park can lift your spirits and put things in perspective. Research shows that getting active improves our moods if you’re feeling low. Physical activity is the number one predictor of longevity, studies show.
Keeping a regular routine is extremely important, as it brings a sense of control, reduces stress and is an important anchor to maintaining good mental health. Our sleep schedule affects our mental sharpness, emotional well-being and energy. Maintaining consistent times for waking and going to bed is a big help to stay on the right track. When you get a good rest it helps you to cope better with stress and anxiety. So try your best not to lose your routine. Remember to do one thing at a time, as you can’t change everything at once as it is counterproductive and you won’t be able for it. Also, watch your routine around your eating. It’s important to eat healthier and make sure not to miss meals or replace them with snacks instead of having proper meals.
On this World Mental Health Day let us all take the opportunity to raise awareness of mental health issues, and those who are working on their mental health to talk about their work and spread the message that there is hope and help out there. Let’s join together as a society and look at what more needs to be done to make mental health care, including financial accessibility, a reality for all.
A great resource to find a professional therapist is the IACP Find a Therapist Tool on their website iacp.ie, which allows you to find a therapist near you or by searching by issue speciality or seek out an accredited therapist by doing some online research, or ask a friend. Today is a reminder that we all need to mind our mental health and do our part to raise awareness that our well-being is just as important as taking care of our physical health.
Séamus Sheedy is an accredited counsellor/psychotherapist in private practice and is the Cathaoirleach of the IACP Board of Directors. To learn more about World Mental Health Day visit: who.int.
Is this a joke? Quotes from the article, such as “…in the fortunate position that her husband could bear the brunt of the rent…”; “…being more aware of lunch spending can make a big difference…”; “…I set up a direct debit to take €250 out of each paycheck. I get paid fortnightly so I was saving €500 a month!” What if you’re only paid €250 a week and can’t afford to do anything else but make your own lunches anyway? As for having a partner who could ‘bear the brunt of the rent’ – anyone interested in bearing the brunt of my €1,000 Dublin rent?
@Smidgen Dublin: So, you are paid 1000 per month? There are 156 hours in a normal working month.
Are you paid 6 euro an hour?
Minimum wage is €9.15
So, either you are only working part-time (and therefore can increase that either by changing job or by taking on more hours), or you are in a REALLY shit job. Either way, you shouldn’t be living in a 1000 euro a month apartment on 1000 gross wages, but I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you that.
I’m sure there are similar badly paid jobs for you available all over the country, but your accommodation costs would come right down.
@Wurps: Thanks for your kind and informed insightful comment. You read my post carefully and responded appropriately. You have really have opened my eyes.
@Smidgen Dublin: You’re very welcome! I know how much you love a bit of common sense and are never up for a pure moan.
@Wurps: You know me so well. You’re a star.
Not only is this article ridiculous in its “simplicity” its also down right insulting to the majority who it pertains to be target!
So tell me all ye wonderful superior people in this article, say your, oh I dunno late 30′s. Single income of say 39,000. Supporting a wife and two kids. Wife stays at home with kids due to childcare costs.
Rent 1000pm
Car a necessity to travel to work which is 40 miles away so fuel up on 140 euros a fortnight.
No public transport option
you have to pay rent, bills, heating, food, look after two kids and all on less than 40k
And you give me this “put 250 a fortnight away” BS to make me feel better!!!
Hey Journal…..F**k OFF!
Live at home, no rent and save like crazy… Prob the only realistic way…
What if you don’t have family home to live in?!
“The Nescafe Azera range is the bomb”……utter lies!!
And who can afford Azera anyway? Lol
is that Aaron McKenna the journal contributor who is always on about cutting the minimum wage and PS pay ??
I mean are ye for fecking real here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Do u not see the irony here!!
@Liam Dunne: Indeed it is. He’s pretty much Ireland’s Katie Hopkins, no?
@Liam Dunne: Wont even by himself a lunch the hungry fecker!
If KBC would give me a “mates-rate” interest free loan that would help.
Cut out the drinking. I read a stat some years back that 50% of Irish disposable income is spent on alcohol. This is where Irish people can save.
@dublinlad: no
There’s a solution that myself and thousands of other people have used and it works a charm. It’s called emigration. I save 50% of my wages and still get to live a normal life.
What I like to see is how my grand parents on one wage bought a house, raised 5 kids on what is now called free ranged and organic, had one basic car,
I know we have wifi, phones, cars etc… but even with this we are relay unpaid these days if my grand parents both worked they be very well off, not like most Irish couples just about surviving these days,
Our whole system needs major change.
In my current situation, my girlfriend and I commute from Westmeath to south Dublin every day. We work within 1km, as we are able to share the commute, and diesel costs. We both have cars. The commute takes around 80mins each way, depending on traffic. I used to live in south Dublin, but moved out in 2014. I Just looked on daft a few mins ago, and compared the rents from my current house, to a similar house where I used to live, there was exactly 1k per month in the difference. The diesel costs are around €250 between the 2 of us, that leaves roughly a saving of €750 a month. We both have cars, and still would have them if we lived in dublin, so the tax/insurance costs are the same as when I lived in Dublin. I must say, its not easy, Leaving the house at 6:30am, returning home usually around 7pm. We have very little free time, and we are usually exhausted when we get home. However, in our view its worth it, as we are able to put away 750 a month.
I know this will not work for everyone, especially anybody with kids.
*The diesel costs are around €250 per month
your commute is costing you €12.5/hour, this is the fiscal costs of your time driving in and out and because your time is a resource, this what you need to earn in overtime for the same time. Therefore, if you earned after tax €20/hour instead of commuting this would be savings. it is a waste of everyone’s time not having proper infrastructure, and as visible above, it is lost revenue for spending and saving.
I see where you get the figures from. However, I am on the high rate of tax, so its the same as me being on €25/hour before tax. As you say, my time is a resource, however it depends on what you decide to do with that time. Sit in traffic and save €12.50 per hour, or rent in dublin, and and save nothing.
The simplest is don’t buy a car. Or if you are a couple, share a car. Between depreciation, tax and insurance, you are looking at more than €3,000 per year before you even put a drop of petrol into it.
I know it’s not practical for people living outside the large cities, but that’s where most 20-something’s live nowadays anyway.
Walking, cycling, using public transport and getting a GoCar/hire car when you need it works out a lot cheaper.
@Chris Mansfield:
Kids cost more!!!
Give us more money and we will be able to save simple
@Ken Donegan: who will give the money?
KBC bank of course…is there any such thing as bad publicity because KBC are doing a pretty good job at it on here daily with their patronising financial advice.
Instant coffee? I’m afraid that doesn’t agree with all my notions.
Utter Twaddle !
Im in my 30s dont have a family home where i can live rent free.. so pay rent pay for car pay weekly & monthly bills ect tbh id rather live like this and enjoy my free time my takeaway once a week my nights out than sit in saving every penny…. we are all going to end up in the same box in the ground regardless of how much money saved!!! But maybe thats just me!!!
I’ll say this, it is possible to save money / get yourself out of debt, but the one thing you really need (especially if you’re already under a mountain of debt) is luck or someone who can protect you from your creditors.
It’s all well and good spouting waffle about Nescafe Azera or your hubby bailing you out, but when you’re left with €15 or €30 a week after rent and bills (but before transport or groceries); that’s of no use to you. If you can get even one of your creditors (lets say a credit card company) to leave you alone for 6 months, it could be the makings of your salvation. Similarly, an unexpected tax rebate or PPI refund could wipe out an outstanding balance.
Perhaps KBC would like to give people a few interest free loans with a 3, 6 or 12 month interest free period to get people back on their feet?
No, didn’t think so.
Learn to be self sufficient. Instead of paying for your car to be serviced, buy some simple tools and DIY. Paint your own house. It’s far too easy to always pay someone else to do things you can easily do yourself. It goes back to the old proverb “give a man a fish and he’ll eat for a day, teach him to fish and he’ll eat forever” Also treat savings as someone else’s money, don’t touch it until you NEED to.
@Emachine: this is supposed to be for people who don’t own their own home, what are they painting? If its rented accommodation don’t even buy the paint and do it yourself, thats the landlords responsibility.
In fact it is about people in their 20s and 30s who are successful savers. The intro doesn’t mention home ownership. That is an assumption on your part. There are more things in life to save for than a house deposit, you will find that out if you ever own a house. Saving doesn’t stop when you sign a mortgage contract. My examples were exactly that… examples.
Life is not all about buying a house ! It’s a craze in this country Owning a house. Living a life. Being a slave to a bank for 30 years is crazy.
I think it’s because when renting you have no security at all. I would have no problem renting for my entire life if I knew that the house I live in will be available for me for as long as I need/want without the fear of random rent homes and/or sudden eviction. Also if I could modify the house as I see fit.
You will get used to living frugally and it’s worth it in the end. Luckily my parents live in the Dublin area so I could move back home. I was able to save €750 a month or 40% of my income for a long time and eventually had enough for a deposit. I bought my cheap banger of a car for cash a few years ago. All my direct debits ( eg health and car insurance, phone bill etc) are set up to leave my account the day after pay day. I cut down on going out expenses by not drinking much and avoiding taxis where possible. Groupon is your friend for essential but luxury things like getting your hair done or eating out. Most of my wardrobe is from Penneys. I continue to use my debit card and avoid cash so that I can monitor my expenditure better. I identified what I could cut down on for example I used to grab a take away coffee every morning but that was setting me back 65 euro a month so I cut that out. It’s not easy but unless you’ve a rich partner or parents, you need to be careful with what you spend if you want to save for what you want.
Why would anyone want to save money today in a negative yielding interest rate environment for deposits!!!??? Doesnt make any sense in the most litteral sense
Regardless of interest, it is common sense to try and put some money away for a rainy day if your circumstances allow you to do so. I wouldn’t let the interest rates put me off putting something away. You never know when life will drop a bill on your lap, so it is nice to have something behind you.
The wife spends mine
YNAB (You need a budget) .com.
A commentator on the journal.ie referred to YNAB approx 2 years ago.
It’s a software program downloadable for your PC/Mac with an accompanying smart-phone app.
I have used it daily since on my iPhone to record purchases and I cannot recommend it highly enough for helping you save money by changing your mind-set towards your spending habits.
There’s a month’s free trial and following that period, you can sign up if you so wish. I think it costs approx €50 per annum. (I signed up when there was a once-off charge but they’ve since changed it to a subscription based model).
Plenty of info on their website as well as tutorials on YouTube along with numerous very positive reviews.
Well worth a try. Stick with it everyday for the month’s trial and see how you view money differently. There are videos on YouTube, along with free-to join live online tutorials to help you understand the software as there is a learning curve involved to make full use of it.
Also google Dave Ramsey (Another US based financial advice guy with his own version of the software).
saving 500 euro a month. that’s 6,000 euro a year. only 10 years to save up a 10% deposit on a 600k house so
@Lukey: its not that complicated. I took out & paid back 2 x €10k Credit Union loans over 2 years so I had a good loan record with them. Then I borrowed €10k from my sister, lodged it into my shares, and got a loan of €55k (3 x share balance). Gave her back her €10k, and still had my 8% deposit and stamp duty sorted.
You just need a bit of aptitude and resourcefulness. I had zero savings and still managed to sort it out. A Credit Union loan doesn’t come up in your credit check for a mortgage. Needs to be declared voluntarily.
Limit the damage on nights out, leave the card at home and bring out a set amount. Also, avoid getting sick in taxis (that ones from personal experience)
It can be done ,,(save money) ,, be positive and set yourself goals
No mention of what they earn, or how much their basic living expenses amount to
… a commentator tried to follow mr.church’s savings tips in Dublin and ended up with hospital bills of €180k after being ploughed of his bicycle in the city centre by an uninsured taxi driver. he await the judgement by the Irish insurance fund for damages to the driver.
“Don’t Report it!” Mick told me that when the partner’s credit card was stolen, he didnt bother to report it, because the thief was spending less.
hard paying rent and still trying to save as much as possible it’ll take me 20 years or more to save any significant amount well so be it
I saved loads of money after i emigrated. Reasonable rents, insurance rates, food and drink etc. Easy really once you get on a plane
Money can be saved: but the government and bosses use thst as a brick to slash pay and raise taxes while the bail out the rich. The money we were able to save is then gone…
I’ve never been on a holiday, I’ve never been to a concert, I shop in Lidl & Aldi, I’m very responsible money-wise…yet I have barely anything left over at the end of the month because I rent in Dublin and I don’t have a salary. So no, it’s not our fault that we can’t save up. Stop with all this ‘you can’t save because you’re irresponsible with your money or you’re splurging’ rubbish.
Add to that I only go out max 5 times a year…don’t buy alcohol etc. I sound like I have an awful miserable life now :D :D :D
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