The cost-of-living crisis has helped to break down some of the stigma around financial difficulty - with millions now feeling more open to discussing money worries with friends and colleagues.
A poll of 2,000 adults revealed 43 per cent are now more likely to reach out for support if they are struggling financially after the prolonged period of rising costs.
The rise in prices of essentials such as energy and food, and the increased number of people struggling with these costs, has encouraged 74 per cent to confront their own troubles.
Previously, 29 per cent say they would have ‘kept their head in the sand’ when it came to any worries they had with their finances.
With 42 per cent worrying about paying energy bills, 18 per cent concerned about eating out and 12 per cent about buying new clothes.
The research was commissioned by Smart Energy GB, which collaborated with rugby league stars Jamie Jones-Buchanan, Alex Walmsley and Amy Hardcastle to encourage people to open up and talk to others – particularly about energy worries.
A poll of 2,000 adults revealed 43 per cent are now more likely to reach out for support if they are struggling financially after the prolonged period of rising costs.
The rise in prices of essentials such as energy and food, and the increased number of people struggling with these costs, has encouraged 74 per cent to confront their own troubles.
Previously, 29 per cent say they would have ‘kept their head in the sand’ when it came to any worries they had with their finances.
With 42 per cent worrying about paying energy bills, 18 per cent concerned about eating out and 12 per cent about buying new clothes.
The research was commissioned by Smart Energy GB, which collaborated with rugby league stars Jamie Jones-Buchanan, Alex Walmsley and Amy Hardcastle to encourage people to open up and talk to others – particularly about energy worries.
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NewsTranscript
00:00I was struggling. Talking, it did help.
00:03It made me realise that I'm never alone.
00:05Keeping in touch really helped me get through tough and challenging times.
00:10Rubble has given me a real sense of purpose and belonging and fulfilment.
00:15It's created many friendships and bonds, almost a family.
00:20The places that I've got to go, the people that I've got to meet,
00:23the skills that it's set me up in life is, you know, it's priceless.
00:27I've been fortunate to have many highs within the game.
00:30To actually make my international debut was definitely a personal high of mine.
00:34My ultimate high would be making the Team of the Decade in 2020.
00:38And off the back of that, it's nice to know that I'm still the leading top try-scorer for England as well.
00:42I was fortunate to represent my community, my city, my town, and have some real success behind it.
00:48So we have highs and then obviously we get the lows as well.
00:51One of my biggest challenges was, you know, taking time out of Rugby League to have my daughter
00:54as I had to start back at the bottom again.
00:57I found that speaking to others has made a huge difference.
00:59In 2019, I retired from playing.
01:02The main challenge was re-identifying who I was,
01:06to work out who the people and resources were that were going to support me and encourage me to do that.
01:11In 2018, I broke my neck and I couldn't play for the best part of 12 months.
01:15The fact that it could affect my livelihood as a new father was quite traumatic.
01:19The financial implication was a natural worry and a strain on myself and my family.
01:24Mental health is massive, not just in sport but in life as well.
01:28The bit that's always got me through it is talking to my peers, my friends, my coaches,
01:33the leaders within my environments.
01:36I think having the immediate family there to support me was massive.
01:39And being able to lean on them to help me get through the challenging days in particular.
01:45Calvin definitely showed me that emotional support going through a lot of tough times
01:49and I'll do him proud with him looking over me and we might not be blood
01:53but I still class him as my grandad, I'll class him as my dad.
01:56Being a mum and having to run two jobs to be able to support myself
02:00comes with a lot of financial struggles.
02:02If you are worried about paying an energy bill, just know that you can talk to your energy supplier.
02:07They may be able to help by installing a smart meter,
02:10which will give you better visibility on the energy that you're using.
02:13I think sometimes half the battle is finding an opportunity to talk
02:17but knowing that there is support and help out there makes that easier.
02:21I'd advise anybody to find the time to connect, communicate and keep in touch.