Two thirds of Scots worry about debt with many claiming it is also affecting their mental and physical health.

Regularly worrying about debt is affecting the mental and physical health of Scottish people, according to new research.

The Debt Advisory Centre Scotland (DACS) has found that nearly two-thirds of Scots regularly worry about debt. A third of these people say it is affecting their mental health with one in five feeling their physical health is also impacted.

The findings back up the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ claim that while one in four adults will experience mental health issue during their lifetime, this increases to one in two among adults who have debts.

Regular fretting over money can lead to feelings of anxiety, exhaustion and hopelessness, while trying to hide the problem from loved ones can result in feelings of guilt and isolation.

A total of 62% of people who responded to the research said that they worried about their debts either sometimes, often or all the time.

More than one in four of the people who worried about their debts felt that the relationship they had with their family had been put under strain because of it.

And 14% of respondents said their friendships had been similarly affected.

Ian Williams of DACS said: “Problem debts can be an experience that leaves people feeling frightened and isolated, with no idea where to turn. However, debt is not something people need to struggle with on their own.

“A range of face-to-face, telephone and online advice is available across Scotland from a wide variety of sources. And for those who need a debt solution, Scotland has a number of helpful options - including the Debt Arrangement Scheme.”