What's your money story?

And how $ is actually impacting your mental health.

One of the biggest ways money is related to mental health is, surprise, due to work — searching for (or having) a job, workplace culture, compensation and financial stress, and so on.

There’s a correlation between our work and our mental health. Mental health issues cost the global economy “$1 trillion in lost productivity a year, with depression being the leading cause of disability.” And, more than 300 million people worldwide suffer from depression.

Coincidentally, one in three U.S. employees say their job has had a negative impact on their mental health over the past six months. In fact, A majority of workers don’t feel like their compensation is keeping up with rates of inflation. Nearly 1-in-5 workers feel like their workplace is toxic or abusive. Workers from marginalized groups experience discrimination at work more than others.

A substantial body of literature has already established a detrimental relationship between poor financial conditions and mental health. Financial hardship, including unsecured debt, leads to lower sleep quality and decreased life satisfaction. It contributes to mental disorders culminating in suicidal thoughts and ideation . The effects are particularly pronounced among vulnerable populations. - Science Direct

So the cycle between mental health and workplace health is a negative feedback loop. Compensation, insurance coverage, and more impact not only how we accumulate or have access to money but it also can cause, or compound on, our mental health issues. It’s all related.

Money can give you your peace of mind plain and simple — but it can also be your main source of stress and anxiety. I decided to ask you what your personal experiences are when it comes how money impacts your mental health. Here’s what you had to say:

• I work more for money which means I don’t eat well or exercise.

• I have anxiety. I know I should save but I also live once.

• I don’t feel as successful as my parents

• It’s extremely stressful when I have debt (which I do)

• Less money = stress/anxiety

• Everything is about money

• If I had a better paying job I think it would help a lot with my current struggles

Unpacking your money story