PEOPLE facing mental health problems or a long term health condition can often fall into debt.

A Halton charity helped more than 1,600 residents across Runcorn and Widnes last year who were struggling to pay bills.

Citizens Advice Halton is urging people who are worried and feeling stressed about their finances and paying their bills to get in touch for support and advice.

More than half of those seeking help had council tax arrears or rent arrears.

Both are classed as priority debts because people risk being imprisoned or losing their home through eviction.

Hitesh Patel, chief executive of Citizens Advice Halton, said: “Mental Health Awareness week may have now ended but we are urging anyone who is worried or feeling stressed about their finances and paying their bills to get in touch for support and advice.

"Fifty three per cent of our service users told us they were disabled or suffered from a long term health condition.

"We all know that debt and money worries can take a massive toll on people’s health and wellbeing but the good news is that last year three in five people said that they felt better able to manage their mental health after getting advice.

"So our message is clear, don’t wait until your feel you’re drowning in debt, get advice now.”

Andy O’Neill, specialist advice co-ordinator, added:“We have a team of qualified money advice case workers who can offer a fast-track service to help local people get their finances and household budgets back on an even keel.

“And thanks to funding from the European Social Fund and Big Lottery, we also have a team of financial capability workers and through our Better Off Finance project we can support people to learn money saving tips like how to switch utility suppliers, which just on its own often saves households £300 a year. 

"That project also offers employability support for people wanting to enter the job market and bespoke confidence building courses to improve people’s mental health and wellbeing.”

Anyone seeking advice from Citizens Advice Halton should email advice@citizensadvicehalton.org.uk or call 0151 257 2449 and leave a message.

The charity aims to respond to all debt enquiries within 24 working hours.