Cost of Living Crisis: Paying the Price in People's Health

Food. Rent. Bills. Relief.

In the past year, the costs of basic items and necessities, from groceries to gas and energy prices, have risen exponentially in what has now become known as the cost of living crisis.

In the UK, 9 in 10 adults reported an increased cost of living between August and September 2022. Rising costs of living have affected almost every aspect of life. Domestic gas prices have increased by 96%, and domestic electricity prices by 54%. Additionally, wIth the price of food in the UK increasing by 14.6% in just one year alone, many more people are suffering from lack of food.

A survey carried out by The Food Foundation showed that 7.3 million adults and 2.6 million children in the UK were food insecure in April 2022. Rising food costs have led not only to increased spending by food banks, but also decreased donations and food supply. On top of this, the number of people turning to food banks continues to increase. 93% of Independent Food Aid Network food banks, consisting of 550 independent food banks, surveyed in May 2022, reported an ‘increased’ or ‘significant increase’ in demand for their services since the start of the year.

According to a YouGov poll commissioned by the Royal College of Physicians in early 2022,

Over half of people in the UK feel that their health has been negatively affected by the rising cost of living.

Millions more people have become food insecure, are struggling to pay their bills, or are unable to afford their rent; living paycheck to paycheck trying to make ends meet means that the price is often paid by people’s physical health and mental health instead.

Winter Exacerbations

As we near the end of the year and temperatures continue to drop, the issues brought about by the cost of living crisis will only become more severe. Families are finding themselves having to choose between “heating and eating”, with the added costs of heating their homes creating a further burden on individuals who may have already been struggling. Sadly, people living in poverty are not only more likely to die from cardiovascular disease, lung cancer, and chronic respiratory illnesses, but they also have higher rates of suicide.

For patients with chronic conditions, such as asthma, cystic fibrosis, COPD, and sickle cell disease, having warm shelters and access to heating can prevent life-threatening exacerbations and hospital admissions. According to a survey by Asthma and Lung UK, one in five people with asthma reported that the rising cost of living has led to asthma attacks because they are increasingly cutting back on medicines, heating, and food. This unacceptable statistic represents the life-threatening consequences of rising costs of living and puts further strain on our already stretched NHS.

Students

For many university students, including students within our community at BL, the cost of living has had a clear effect on people’s daily lives. Half of students report being forced to cut back on food expenditures. As of June 2022, one in ten students reported being forced to turn to food banks because they were unable to afford essential groceries. Many are also are struggling to pay their student loans, afford rent, travel to campus, and have cut back on non-essential spending such as for social events or leisure.

In a BBC interview, Alice Tedds, vice-president of opportunities at Bath Spa University Students' Union (BSUSU), reported that students "can't afford to follow their hobbies and interests because of the costs". For many students, following their hobbies or joining sports clubs and societies are how they meet other students and form closer friendships, however the cost of living crisis means that many students are now unable to participate in these activities, which could also lead to further isolation, loneliness, and mental health issues.

Mental Health

In addition to the tolls on physical health, the cost of living crisis has been having marked effects on people’s mental health. Over half of young people say the cost of living is a major worry that causes disruptions to their daily life, diet, and sleep. Over 60% therapists report that increasing costs of living are resulting in worse mental health. For those with mental health support, the crisis means some are no longer seeking help. Almost 50% of therapists noted that their clients have been cancelling or pausing sessions because they are no longer able to afford them. It is clear that the stress of daily living costs are taking a toll on people’s wellbeing. If we don’t act soon, the cost of living crisis will turn into a mental health pandemic.

Conclusion

There is no sufficient way to highlight the significance and urgency of the cost of living crisis. The rising cost of living is driving more people into poverty and forcing individuals and families to make difficult choices about how they spend and save their money. In the long-term, this crisis will exacerbate not only physical illnesses, but also mental illness. We need to act now to demand better conditions and reject the status quo. We need to act now to urge the government to provide financial relief before a population health crisis ensues. We need to act before it's too late.

Resources

If you have been affected by the rising cost of living, please know you are not alone, and you do not need to suffer in silence. If you would like further support, BLSA and QMUL have a Cost of Living Portal with different resources to support students, including money and practical advice, a financial assistance fund, free campus facilities, and external support: https://www.qmul.ac.uk/student-experience/cost-of-living/

If you have the resources and are able, consider checking in on those around you, donating food to your local food bank, or volunteering your time to support organisations tackling the cost of living crisis.