People in debt are suffering from increasing levels of loneliness and isolation as the pressure on the cost of living hits, Christians Against Poverty (CAP) has warned.

The charity surveyed 750 of its customers for its latest research, released on Monday to coincide with the start of Mental Health Awareness Week. She revealed that customers struggling with debt were often too worried to answer the door, leave the house or answer the phone. Statistics show that the number of people reporting feeling lonely or isolated has increased among people in debt since the lockdown ended.

Before coming to CAP for debt advice and support, 60% of those surveyed said they felt lonely – an increase from 51% of clients 18 months ago when Covid restrictions were at their worst apogee.

Around 40% of respondents said they had not had a meaningful conversation in the past week: up from 31% 18 months ago; and two-thirds said they had no one to turn to if they had a problem, an increase of 6%.

Sixty-eight percent said they were afraid to answer the phone and 55% were too afraid to answer a knock on the door.

A client, Jonathan, got into debt after a family bereavement. “It was a very lonely and frustrating time,” he said. “Even though I knew in my head that many people have to struggle with debt, I felt like I was the only one, until I started to engage with CAP and found that it wasn’t. was not the case. It definitely gave me hope that there was light at the end of the tunnel.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists has reported that more than half of people in debt have mental health issues.

CAP’s helpline has seen a significant increase in demand this year: there was a 36 per cent increase in calls in the three months from January to March, the charity said, compared to 2021.

CAP external affairs director Gareth McNab said: “For many of us, the easing of lockdown restrictions meant a happy ending to isolation; but for thousands of low-income families struggling with debt and poverty, the isolation and loneliness they feel is actually worsening due to the crisis in the cost of living and rising debts .

“At this time, we know that many people feel isolated, scared and forgotten as they struggle with their debt on their own, unaware of the free help available. Alongside CAP’s free debt help , we also offer emotional support and life skills classes to help people who feel isolated connect with others and reduce loneliness.

“Living with the kind of constant anxiety that debt creates often leads to feelings of isolation and loneliness.”