‘Nothing makes sense in York apart from moving to a tent in a park’

A new report has revealed the physical and mental toll on York residents of the cost of living crisis.

Healthwatch York, the city’s health and social care champion, has investigate the impact of rising prices on people of all ages in the city.

And they found widespread stress as people struggled to do the basics.

Their findings included:

• People are struggling to heat their homes, often resulting in the worsening of existing physical and/or mental health conditions
• People are skipping meals due to rising food costs
• People feel as though they are surviving rather than living
• People report a sense of failure in not being able to support themselves and/or their families.

The report said: “People are struggling to afford food and bills, despite, in many cases, having previously been financially comfortable.

“People have told us that the lack of wage increases in line with inflation means that people are struggling to afford as much as they used to. They have had to cut back to just buying necessities.”

Here are some of the things York people told Healthwatch:

• “Skipping meals to cut costs. Keeping the heating off. Eating cold food like sandwiches instead of cooking”

• “I don’t have enough money to get through each month. I’m skipping meals, only having the heating on for half an hour a day. I have asthma and have ended up with a chest infection requiring antibiotics”

• “I am in my 30s, working 40-hour weeks and I have to rent a room because nothing else makes any bloody sense in York apart from maybe moving to a tent in a park. I don’t even drive”

• “I was already on the edge of poverty and now am closer to falling over the edge. I use a food bank once a month. The energy increase even with the current cap will leave me with under £100 per month for food etc”

Altogether, 69.54% said that their physical and / or mental health had been affected by the changes to the cost of living.

One respondent said: “Mental health has taken a huge nose dive. I’ve had a massive nervous breakdown this year as a result of home and work factors and pressures of being a one income household.”

Another parent said this: ““I am worried sick that my children won’t eat and they get cold and sick it’s sending me mad.”

And people are making radical changes to their lives to surive:

• “Stopping going out with friends. Stopped taking my children swimming. Being very careful with gas & electricity use. Selling old clothes“

• “I go without food every other day so baby can eat”

• “Working more to earn more, leading to stress and not spending as much time with my family/little boy”

In its conclusion, Healthwatch York says: “The responses to the survey make for difficult reading… Against a backdrop of increased demand for mental health services post- pandemic, the rising cost of living is causing an increase in stress and anxiety.”

It says: “Making it clear that people are not to blame, but should receive help and support to get through these difficult times, is essential. We will play our part in signposting people to help available.”

The Healthwatch York report will be presented to the City of York Council health and wellbeing board meeting on Wednesday (18 January). Read the report and documents here