Stress crisis' as 5m people struggle with financial, health and housing insecurity

More than 5 million UK adults are experiencing a triple whammy of financial, health and housing insecurity as British households hit levels of "multi-stress" not seen since the global economic crash well over a decade ago, research shows.

- Patrick Butler

One in 10 working-age adults are juggling low income and debt, insecure tenancies and high rents, and problems accessing NHS care. They are at least twice as likely as the rest of the population to report mental stress, sleeplessness and isolation.

Researchers said the explosion in multiple insecurity amounted to a "national stress crisis", with those affected experiencing heightened volatility and uncertainty in their lives and profound feelings of powerlessness and lack of control.

The analysis highlights the rise in the number of people experiencing a combination of three separate categories of insecurity to map the extent to which people have the capacity to enjoy a good quality of life, materially and psychologically.

Becky Tunstall, a co-author of the research and LSE visiting professor, said the findings represented a challenge to the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, to help millions of people who struggle to pay bills and access public services, and who feel their lives are on hold.