Latest news with #NationalWellbeingDashboard
The Independent
27-04-2025
- Health
- The Independent
How to tackle money stress
Stress. It's a word we bandy around often but what does it actually mean? According to the NHS, stress is the body's reaction to feeling threatened or under pressure. A bit of stress is normal – after all, things challenge us daily. The key is recognising when stress is a problem. When we're stressed, our body releases hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol and this can be helpful, as it can help us focus and get things done. But too much stress can affect our mental and physical health – from money worries keeping us awake at night to bristling with irritability and snapping at loved ones. Stress Awareness Month has been held every April since 1992 to raise awareness of the causes and cures for our modern-day stress epidemic. Around one in four adults in Great Britain say they find it fairly or very difficult to get by financially, according to the Office for National Statistics' National Wellbeing Dashboard. Here's what my clients tell me about stress: 'Talia, I want to stop stressing about money. I want to know I have enough money to live well – now and in future. I live with a constant level of stress because money is always nagging away at the back of my mind.' So, what can be done to alleviate money stress? Knowing you're stressed about money is one thing but knowing isn't doing. It's important to focus on what you can control. Pause and reflect In my experience, it's common for people to spend more time stressing about their finances than actually working on their finances. The result? Nothing changes. And people live with a constant level of stress because money is always nagging at the back of their mind. Stress is a sign that something needs dealing with, so listen to what your stress is telling you. Reflect on what's causing your stress and consider what changes are needed. It can help to put pen to paper to slow your racing mind and write down what's causing you stress. Seeing it written down can give you clarity needed to take action. Give yourself permission to learn There's an assumption that because we all use money, by the time we're adults we should all know how to manage money. And if we struggle, it's easy to consider it a personal failing. But let's consider managing money a skill like any other. A skill that has to be learned, honed, developed. Give yourself permission to learn about money – your money. And understand the cause of your financial stress so you can address it. One step at a time Baby steps to bigger goals is what I say to my clients. It's easy to be overwhelmed by all the things that need to be done and then to be 'overwhelmed into inaction', as one client said to me. The result is that nothing changes. Instead, focus on what you can control. Work backwards and break that bigger financial goal down into small steps, baby steps. And then take action one step at a time. Keep doing what keeps you well When stressed, it's common to drop all of the things that keep us well, such as exercising or spending time with family and friends. Can't manage a workout? Go for a walk. Can't spend time with a group of friends? See people one-on-one. Self-care isn't just a nice to have – looking after your physical and mental wellbeing is key to managing stress levels. Open up, seek help A problem shared is a problem halved. A trusted person can listen and provide new perspectives and solutions. Is there a friend, family member, colleague or peer you could speak with? Does your workplace or trade union or professional body offer a financial support service? There are brilliant organisations doing great work to support people with money. If you're worried about debt, charities such as StepChange can help. Citizens Advice can help with money, legal and other problems. Financial guidance website MoneyHelper has a range of resources. Talia Loderick is a money coach. Talia helps people understand and take control of their behaviour with money so they can stop stressing about money and have enough to live well – now and in future. Visit:
The Independent
12-02-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Older generations happier now than pre-Covid, study finds
Older adults in England have reported elevated levels of happiness, life satisfaction, and purpose compared to pre-pandemic times, according to new research. Experts suggest that navigating the Covid-19 crisis may have fostered a renewed appreciation for social connections and meaningful activities for the older generation. The findings come from an analysis of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, which tracks the wellbeing of individuals aged 50 and over. While the study reveals a positive shift in overall wellbeing, researchers also noted that depression rates remain slightly higher than pre-2020 levels. This suggests a complex picture of post-pandemic mental health among older adults, with increased happiness and purpose coexisting alongside lingering mental health challenges. Figures from 3,999 people show that self reported ratings for happiness; eudaemonic wellbeing – which measures whether a life feels worthwhile; and life satisfaction all plummeted during the pandemic. But they found that all aspects of positive wellbeing improved in a statistically significant way post-pandemic. And measures tracking eudaemonic wellbeing and life satisfaction were significantly higher than before the pandemic. By contrast, levels of depression among the group have not returned to pre-pandemic levels. Some 11.4 per cent reported depressive symptoms before Covid-19 and during the pandemic this short up to 27.2 per cent in late 2020. But the latest measures show that post-pandemic levels of depression fell to 14.9 per cent among the group studied, according to the study which has been published in the journal Aging and Mental Health. 'Our research showed that the pandemic had a profound effect on the well-being of older people in England,' said study lead author Paola Zaninotto, professor of medical and social statistics at UCL's Department of Epidemiology and Public Health. 'As many would expect, we found that well-being declined during the pandemic, and instances of depression rose. 'While depression is still slightly more prevalent than before 2020, remarkably, overall older people are now happier, more satisfied and have a greater sense of purpose than before the pandemic. 'We can only speculate on the reasons for this. It perhaps could reflect a renewed appreciation for social connections and meaningful activities, as well as increased psychological resilience after a period of adversity. 'Improved health security following widespread vaccinations could also have contributed to this positive shift. 'We saw marked differences by age and affluence, underscoring the importance of tailored support policies for the immediate and lingering effects of pandemics on the well-being of our older population.' Figures from the Office for National Statistics' National Wellbeing Dashboard show that between July and September 2024, around one in 20 (4.7 per cent) of UK adults report they have low levels of satisfaction with their lives. A smaller proportion (3.6 per cent) gave a rating of 'low' when asked how worthwhile they feel the things they do in life are. Meanwhile, 7.7 per cent rated their happiness the previous day as 'low'. More adults in the UK reported feeling 'high anxiety yesterday' in July to September 2024 (22.5 per cent) compared to July to September 2019 (20.4 per cent). And the proportion of adults in the UK reporting some evidence of depression or anxiety has increased in the long term, according to the ONS. Some 22.6 per cent reported some evidence of depression or anxiety in 2022 to 2023, compared to 19.7 per cent in 2017 to 2018.
