The 10th of October marks the annual return of World Mental Health Day.
The World Mental Health 2025 theme is about doomscrolling and ‘access to services – mental health in catastrophes and emergencies‘. The theme highlights the importance of people being able to protect their mental health in times of global instability.
Doomscrolling refers to the habit of continuously consuming negative news or distressing online content, often through social media or news apps. While staying informed is important, constant exposure to alarming headlines can heighten anxiety, stress, and feelings of hopelessness. Recognising this behaviour and setting healthy boundaries around media use can make a big difference to our overall wellbeing.
The world is going through challenging times, but many of us are also carrying deep personal pressures in addition to global uncertainty.
Doomscrolling and the debt cycle
Many people turn to social media as a distraction from financial stress, endlessly scrolling to take their mind off money worries. Typically, this “doomscrolling” can deepen those worries.
Social media algorithms tend to surface content based on what we already engage with. So, if you’re anxious about debt, you’re more likely to see posts about financial struggles, cost-of-living, or budgeting challenges. Instead of relief, this can amplify guilt, anxiety, and hopelessness, feeding a vicious cycle harder to escape.
The real relief comes not from distraction, but from taking real action. Even small steps can help you regain control of your mental wellbeing. Debt does not define you; choosing support does.
How does financial difficulty affect Mental Health?
A common cause for mental health struggles is financial difficulty. Struggling to afford the essentials and to stay afloat financially is often linked to heightened levels of stress and anxiety.
As financial difficulty escalates, unaffordable debt can build up. Here at Trust Deed Scotland®, we hear from people across Scotland who are struggling to keep up with repayments to their debts. It is common for the people that speak to us to link mental health struggles to their debt; often discussing a lack of sleep caused by worrying about their financial future and experiencing stress caused by their debt.
In our most recent survey, we found that:¹
- Over 91% of Trust Deed Scotland® customers told us that they lost sleep worrying about their debt.
- 91% of our customers told us that debt had an impact on their mental health before entering into a debt solution, with many specifically affected by stress and anxiety.
- Many of our customers said that they have stress or anxiety.
Let’s talk about it
While conversations around mental health have become more common, stigma still exists, and it often extends to discussions about debt. In fact, 50% of our customers told us they waited a year or more before seeking debt advice because they felt ashamed, embarrassed, or feared being judged for their financial situation.¹
As difficult as it may feel, it’s important not to be too hard on yourself over debt. Many people across Scotland experience financial difficulties, and feelings of shame or embarrassment can take a toll on your mental wellbeing, often making the situation even harder to manage.
The best way forward is to speak with an experienced debt adviser who can help you find the right solution for your circumstances. Taking that first step with Trust Deed Scotland® has already helped over 30,000 people in Scotland achieve a fresh financial start.
Last year, the theme put forward by the World Federation of Mental Health was to raise awareness about mental health in the workplace, a reminder that open, honest conversations are the key to breaking stigma and improving wellbeing, both at work and at home.
What our customers say
Heading over to our TrustPilot page, containing thousands of Trust Deed Scotland reviews, our customers say things like…
“I phoned Trust Deed Scotland after struggling to manage the mountain of debt I’d got myself into. My adviser was Matthew, and I honestly can’t recommend him enough,he was absolutely fantastic. Everything was clearly explained to me: all my options, the pros and cons of each, and the process involved with the option I chose.
I was kept fully updated throughout, which really helped put me at ease as I was very anxious about entering into a Trust Deed. I genuinely can’t recommend Trust Deed Scotland highly enough as they’ve taken so much worry and stress out of my life and changed it for the better. My only regret is not contacting them sooner.
– Caitlin
“The hardest part was picking up the phone, but once I did, it felt like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders. My debt was getting worse and worse, and so was my anxiety. After I spoke to Barry for the first time, he put me at ease, and the process after that was great. I gave him the information he needed, and within a couple of weeks, he had everything set up for a payment plan I can actually afford.”
– Steven
“I filled in an online form and was contacted by Sharon. I wanted some advice, and we explored the different options before deciding that a Trust Deed suited me best. I was still unsure about going ahead and voiced my concerns, but Sharon explained everything in detail, including the benefits and helped me realise it was the best way to get a fresh start. Now I only have one payment a month and no stress attached to it.”
– Michael
Contact Trust Deed Scotland® for Debt Help
Tackling your debt can be the first step in improving your mental health. In a recent survey, 90% of Trust Deed Scotland® customers told us that their mental health improved after they entered a debt solution¹
Our team of experienced debt advisers provide you with tailored, non-judgmental, understanding and supportive debt advice – as cited by many of our customers on TrustPilot.
Find out more about debt advice from Trust Deed Scotland®.
Talk to an experienced adviser today by calling 0141 221 0999.
Get in touch with the team on the Trust Deed Scotland® WhatsApp Debt Advice service.
Support Services for Mental Health
We understand that although mental health struggles can be closely related to debt or could even be the direct cause of it, you may need to get in touch with people who are trained in mental health support. Please follow the links below if you feel it is appropriate for you. Discover more links to additional support services here.
Call Breathing Space on 0800 83 85 87 for free.
Visit the See Me website for the relevant contact information.
SHOUT provide 24/7 support via text message. Text ‘SHOUT’ TO 85258.
Call the Samaritans on 116 12 for free, 24/7.
Visit the SAMH website for support.
Last year, the theme put forward by World Federation of Mental Health was to raise awareness about mental health in the workplace.
¹November–December 2024 Trust Deed Scotland® customer survey with 2,705 responses.