A Bristol charity which issues advice on energy says it is receiving calls from people feeling suicidal 'at least two or three times a week' as gas and energy bills soar. Bristol's Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE) has given its staff special training in suicide awareness amid an influx in calls from people struggling with their mental health as a result of the cost of living crisis.
Energy bills rose by around 54 percent on April 1, meaning the average household will now pay around £693 more per year to heat and light their home. Increased gas, council tax, mobile phone and food bills are also contributing to the cost of living squeeze which is being felt in Bristol and beyond.
The CSE has called the energy price cap rise "chilling news" for millions of people already struggling, adding it has seen "unprecedentedly high" numbers of people seeking energy saving advice. "We’ve seen a fourfold increase in demand for advice on financial support and energy debt," it said.
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The charity says the nature of the calls it is receiving has also changed. “Callers are increasingly in distress and having to make tough choices about essentials like energy, food and clothes," it added. "We are speaking to people whose mental health is suffering because of the cost of living crisis. A few years ago, it was rare for us to speak to someone who was feeling suicidal, now it’s a regular occurrence.
"Our advisors have all received suicide awareness training and our safeguarding policy has been expanded to add additional layers of support. Rather than speak to a caller once or twice, we are now speaking to them on multiple occasions to deal with a variety of complex issues.”
The charity also says it is making more food bank referrals than during the height of the pandemic. "During the first lockdown we strengthened our partnerships with food banks," it said. "We are now making ten times more foodbank referrals than we did previously."
Detailing a sample call they received, the charity said: "Emma [not her real name] was in £1800 debt with her energy supplier. She’s received letters from the supplier which she’s found upsetting, she’s also had the bailiffs visit her home in relation to other debts. She was severely distressed and feeling suicidal.
"Our advisor organised a conference call with the supplier to get authority on the account. Following numerous calls, we have negotiated agreement with the supplier for the payments to be taken direct from her benefits as the client would prefer this. We have made a foodbank referral and also been liaising with social services about wider issues."
What help is available for rising energy bills?
£200 loan for energy customers
All domestic energy customers in England, Scotland and Wales will get £200 towards their bill in October 2022. Your energy supplier should add the discount to your account for you. However, you’ll pay back the £200 by paying an extra £40 a year on your annual bill for the next five years, starting from April 2023.
£150 Council Tax rebate
In April, all households in England on Council Tax bands A to D will receive a one-off £150 rebate on their Council Tax bill for that month, which you won't need to pay back. If you’re paying by Direct Debit, the rebate should be automatically discounted from your April bill by your local authority. If you pay less than £150 a month, you’ll get the discount across two payments.
If you don’t pay by Direct Debit, your council should start to process the discount from April. If you are renting or do not pay your Council Tax bill directly, make sure you ask the person (such as your landlord) who does to pass the discount on to you.
How to save money on energy bills?
What you can do
Simple things like making sure you unplug phone chargers, not leaving things on standby and using energy efficient light bulbs are the first steps. You can also improve the energy efficiency of your home with double glazing and insulation. Click here for more ways you can save on your energy bills.
Get help
You can get advice on energy by visiting the CSE website. You can also see Citizens Advice if you're struggling to pay your bills and the Ofgem website for more information.
The Samaritans can be reached round the clock, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you need a response immediately, it’s best to call them on the phone. You can reach them by calling 116 123, by emailing jo@samaritans.org or by visiting www.samaritans.org
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