Fuel Poverty and the Impact on Mental Health
Fuel poverty is becoming an increasingly urgent issue in the UK, affecting millions of people. Defined as the need to spend more than one-third of your income on fuel to heat your home, this crisis is steadily growing, impacting both people’s daily lives and the environment. As of April 2025, the National Energy Action (NEA) estimates that around 6.1 million people in the UK are living in fuel poverty.
The Connection Between Poverty and Mental Health
When money is tight, the weight of worrying about how to pay bills, keep your home warm, and provide for your family can feel overwhelming. As the Mental Health Foundation points out, there’s a clear connection between financial hardship and mental health struggles. People living in poverty are far more likely to experience anxiety and depression compared to those with more financial stability.
With household energy bills rising by £111 from April 2025, it’s easy to see how concerns about paying for energy can contribute to this growing mental health crisis. The stress of rising costs, coupled with the fear of not being able to keep your home warm, can have a very real significant impact on well-being.
Don’t Struggle! Reach Out for Support
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the weight of rising bills or the pressure of living in fuel poverty, please know you’re not alone. There is support available.
The LEAP (Local Energy Advice Partnership) is a FREE service designed to help those in need, offering practical advice and assistance to keep your home warm and your energy costs manageable. At Green Energy Switch, we’re proud to provide these visits in Peterborough, Fenland, South Cambridgeshire, and Rutland.
Through LEAP, you can get a free home visit where an energy advisor will assess your energy usage, help identify areas where you can save, and provide advice on any discounts or grants you might be eligible for. They can also install energy-saving measures, like LED light bulbs, at no extra cost.
Taking action to address fuel poverty not only helps to improve living conditions but can also have a positive effect on mental health and overall well-being. You don’t have to face this challenge alone, please reach out for help.
Apply for LEAP today
For more information or to book your free LEAP visit, please visit our website. If you have any questions or need support, don’t hesitate to call us at 01733 646253.
Together, we can make a difference. You deserve a warm, safe home, and we’re here to help you achieve that.
ABOUT US
Green Energy Switch (GES) delivers a broad range of energy services across the UK; specialising in working with social landlords and local authorities. Established in 2006, GES is a subsidiary of environmental charity PECT. We gift-aid any profits to PECT to help fund their vital work. In doing so, we are the lead sponsor of their Forest project. So far over 117,000 trees have been planted, equating to a remarkable reduction of over 1,300 tonnes of carbon emission.
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