Charity
M ental wellbeing
The cost of living: a helping hand Support for Freemasons and their families in adversity Just as we were starting to recover financially and emotionally from the pandemic, we were hit with another challenge: the rise in the cost of living. Since the start of this crisis, the Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF, the Freemasons’ charity) has received an increasing number of enquiries about financial and mental health support. For most people, the crisis means looking at household budgets and cutting back wherever they can. However, for some, it means not having enough money to put food on the table or heat their homes. The price of basic needs such as heating and food are continuing to increase, and people are undoubtedly thinking about what they can do to get through this difficult period. The MCF can help Freemasons and their family members access the statutory support they are entitled to, as well as talk about any MCF support available for them. MCF adviser Caroline Wales says, ‘A lot of people reaching out for help are unaware of the state benefits they may be entitled to, so we help them
to complete a full benefits check and any applications. ‘I spoke to a woman whose husband died after she had cared for him for 10 years. Her caring role was so time-consuming that she hadn’t considered or been aware of the benefits she could claim and which she desperately needed when the cost of living started to rise. Thankfully, we have helped her access Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and pension credit, which she was entitled to all along.’ Freemasons and their family members can also get help for financial or personal challenges, as well as physical or mental health conditions, by applying for an MCF grant. Once eligibility has been confirmed, the MCF team can help with the application process and provide the support needed.
‘There is no doubt that the recent spike in mental health issues is linked to the cost-of-living crisis’ mental wellbeing, they can reach out to the MCF for support. It offers an independent team of professional counsellors and therapists who are registered and accredited by the UK Council for Psychotherapy.
Looking for financial
To find out more
support during the
about the MCF’s
cost-of-living crisis?
mental health support,
Scan the QR code or
scan the code or visit
visit mcf.org.uk/
mcf.org.uk/FMT60/
FMT60/Crisis
mentalhealth
FMT Winter 2022
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Another issue that the cost-of-living crisis has highlighted is debt, with 4.6 million low-income households in the UK behind on at least one bill. Dealing with money worries as well as poor mental health can feel like a losing battle. Mental illness often makes it harder to earn and manage money, and debt can trigger or worsen conditions such as anxiety, depression and stress. It’s unsurprising that one in two adults with debt also has a mental illness. According to the Office for National Statistics, 77 per cent of adults in the UK reported feeling very or somewhat worried about the rising costs of living. For many, worry and fear have quickly led to depression, stress and anxiety. The Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF) adviser Caroline Wales says, ‘There’s no doubt that the recent spike in mental health issues is linked to the cost of living; more than 90 per cent of people calling for support have expressed feelings of anxiety about the current climate. There has been a significant increase in referrals to our free counselling service, and some financial support cases have even been re-categorised as safeguarding cases.’ If a Freemason or their close family members are experiencing low mood, symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress or any other conditions affecting their
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